Ben Mendelsohn

Paul Benjamin Mendelsohn, born on April 3, 1969, in Melbourne, Victoria, is a distinguished Australian actor. He gained prominence with his role in The Year My Voice Broke (1987) and later received international acclaim for his portrayal in the crime drama Animal Kingdom (2010). Mendelsohn's diverse filmography includes notable roles in The Dark Knight Rises (2012), Rogue One (2016), and Ready Player One (2018).
Mendelsohn's early life involved living in Europe and the U.S. before returning to Melbourne, where he attended local schools including Heidelberg Primary and Banyule High. Initially enrolling in drama as an easy elective, he was the only one among his friends to audition for Crawford Productions, which marked the start of his acting career.
His early television roles included The Henderson Kids, and he won the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Supporting Actor for The Year My Voice Broke. His subsequent films include The Big Steal (1990), Spotswood (1992), and Metal Skin (1994). Mendelsohn also featured in Julius Caesar (2005) and Australia (2008). His role in Animal Kingdom earned him numerous accolades, including the IF Award and AFI’s Best Actor in a Leading Role.