I think you have to find the humanity in the character and then the deterioration is a part of the process - the journey of the character. It's like playing King Lear. You can start off as a nice old man who finishes up crazy.
I used to do impersonations: Harry Butler in the wild, or I'd do Gough Whitlam.
I'll never forget anything about Middle Earth. That's part of my memory now so I won't miss anything.
I'm becoming a frustrated director, I think, in an actor's body.
Some people would say I've made it now.
Well you just have to own it, I suppose. Own the character, which is difficult.
In 2002 David starred in Sam Shepard's play True West.
David Wenham is now quickly rising through the ranks to become one of Australia's most popular and sought after male actors.
To enable him to portray Diver Dan as a gourmet cook David spent time with a master chef, learning how to use a knife without cutting his fingers off. He has listened to countless CDs and is constantly practising drumming to match Dan's lack of percussion skills and, whilst David likes fishing, he doubts he will ever reach Dan's boating ability.
David Wenham read a poem called "The Crocodiles Are Crying" at the Steve Irwin Memorial Service.
In 2000, David was nominated for the AFI Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for: Better Than Sex (2000).
In 2002, David was nominated for the AFI Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for: Molokai: The Story of Father Damien (1999).
In 2004, David was nominated for the AFI Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Television Drama or Comedy for: The Brush-Off (2004).
David Wenham: My life at the moment is a bit like my wardrobe. Organised chaos.
On March 13, 2002 - David signed up as an "Ancient Forest Guardian" in Sydney, together with some other actors from down under, e.g. Sam Neill (NZ) and Toni Collette (Aus).
In 2003, David was a Green Room Award nominee for his work in an Australian stage production of True West.
David was cast in The Lord of the Rings because of his resemblance to his on-screen brother, Sean Bean. As Wenham notes, they both have big noses.
In the cave scene in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) where Faramir lifts the Ring from under Frodo's shirt, David was afraid of accidentally stabbing Elijah Wood, so a swordsman was called on to do the scene.
Before acting, David used to call bingo in Sydney's Marrickville Town hall, then also worked as an insurance clerk.
David has a brother and five sisters.
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