Rhys Wakefield: Bio And Career Highlights

November 20, 1988

Cairns, Queensland, Australia

36 Years Old

Scorpio

Rhys Wakefield is an Australian actor and director recognized for his intense, often nuanced performances. He brings a compelling presence to a diverse range of cinematic projects.


His breakout moment arrived with the 2008 film The Black Balloon, where his portrayal of Thomas Mollison earned critical acclaim and significant festival buzz, solidifying his status as a promising young talent.

Born in Cairns, Queensland, Rhys Wakefield grew up with a strong family background; his mother worked as a medical standards officer and his father served in the Australian navy. He honed his craft early, attending the McDonald College of Performing Arts on scholarship and graduating in 2006, performing in Shakespeare plays and collaborating with Opera Australia and the Australian Ballet during his studies.

Rhys Wakefield married Maddie Simmer on June 16, 2020, in a private ceremony with actress Bonnie Wright serving as a witness. Their union marked a significant personal milestone for the Australian talent.


He has no publicly known children, and the couple maintains a relatively low profile regarding their shared life together.

Wakefield's breakthrough performance as Thomas Mollison in the 2008 film The Black Balloon garnered widespread critical praise and an Australian Film Institute nomination for Best Actor. This role established him as a compelling dramatic actor in the Australian film industry.


He expanded his career into directing with his debut feature film Berserk, released in American cinemas in 2019, showcasing his talent behind the camera. Wakefield also notably appeared as the Polite Leader in The Purge franchise and Freddy Burns in HBO's True Detective season three.

“I'd like to do interesting indie films mixed with big, high-paying commercial blockbusters. 'One for you, one for me,' is what they say.”