Eric Bana

Eric Bana
File:Photo-2002-03-FHM-01.jpg Bana in a publicity photo.
Born
August 9 1968 Melbourne, Australia
Occupation
Actor, Comedian
Famous for
Full Frontal (television series) (1993-1997) Chopper (2000) Black Hawk Down (2001) Munich (2005)

Eric Bana (born Eric Banadinovich on August 9, 1968) is an Australian television and Australian Film Institute-winning film actor. He began his career as a comedian in the Australian comedy sketch series Full Frontal and gained critical recognition in 2000's gritty biopic Chopper. After a decade of critically acclaimed roles in Australian television shows and films, Bana gained Hollywood's attention after landing the role of American Delta Sergeant Norm 'Hoot' Gibson in Black Hawk Down (2001), before his breakthrough in 2003 when he was featured in the lead role as Bruce Banner in the Ang Lee directed film Hulk (2003). Bana performs predominantly in leading roles in a wide variety of low-budget and major studio films, ranging from romantic comedies and drama to science fiction and action thrillers. His most popular films include Chopper (2000), Hulk (2003) and Munich (2005).

Early life

Bana was born Eric Banadinovich in Melbourne, Australia to Ivan Banadinovich (a Croatian who worked for the Caterpillar Inc. tractor company) and Eleanor (a German-born hairdresser). He has an older brother, Anthony, who was born in 1965. Bana originally dreamed of becoming a car mechanic and tried his hand in odd jobs, including tending bar, where he also did stand-up comedy.

Career

Eric Bana began his career as a comedian, first coming to national attention in Australia in the comedy sketch series Full Frontal (1993-1997). Later, he was the star and/or anchor for two short-running TV shows; Eric (special 1996, series 1997), a sketch comedy show that he wrote, co-produced and starred in, and The Eric Bana Show Live (1997), a variety show. His most enduring character from his early career is "Poida", a typical Aussie male "bogan". Bana won the 'Most Popular Comedy Personality' at the 1997 Logies for his roles in Full Frontal.

Poster for the film "Chopper"

Aside from a small role in the Australian independent-hit The Castle (1997) in which he played a kickboxer, Bana disappeared from Australia's entertainment screens for several years, only to make a re-appearance in the gritty black biopic Chopper in 2000, about the infamous Australian underworld figure, Mark Brandon Read. Chopper garnered world-wide attention, and won three Australian Film Institute awards, including a "Best Actor" award for Bana.

After this, his international reputation grew, and he played a supporting role in Ridley Scott's Black Hawk Down (2001), starred in the Australian comedy The Nugget (2002) and took the title role in Ang Lee's 2003 movie Hulk. He also played prince Hector in the epic Troy (2004) and starred as the leader of an Israeli hit squad in Steven Spielberg's controversial film Munich (2005). Bana will next be seen in Curtis Hanson's Lucky You. He has also signed on to star in Romulus, My Father, which is due out in 2006. Bana is contractually obliged to star in a sequel to Hulk, but the mixed critical and public reaction to the first film has put initial plans for Hulk 2 up in the air.

Private life

In 1997, Bana married Rebecca Gleeson, a former publicist with the Seven Network (the home of the TV series "Full Frontal") and daughter of Australian High Court Chief Justice Murray Gleeson. Together they have a son, Klaus (b. August 1999) and a daughter, Sophia (b. April 2002). His wife and son can be seen in the movie Black Hawk Down on a photo. At some point of the movie a US soldier (not Bana's character) is looking at a photo of his wife and child. The props department forgot to take an approriate photo with them, and asked Bana's wife and child who were travelling with him if they could use a photo of them in the movie.

They reside in Melbourne, Australia. Bana is a motor racing enthusiast and often races in his home country. He is also a keen follower of Australian Rules Football. He supports the St Kilda Football Club.

Selected filmography

Year	Title	Role	Other notes
2007	Hulk 2	Bruce Banner
2006	Romulus, My Father	Romulus	filming
2006	Lucky You	Huck Cheever	Post-Production
2005	Munich	Avner Kauffman
2004	Troy	Hector
2003	Hulk	Bruce Banner
2003	Finding Nemo	Anchor	voice
2002	The Nugget	Lotto
2001	Black Hawk Down	Hoot
2000	Something in the Air	Joe Sabatini	TV series
2000	Chopper	Mark Brandon Read	Australian Movie
1997	The Castle	Con Petropoulous	Australian Movie
1996	Eric	Various Characters	TV
1993	Full Frontal	Various Characters	TV

External links

• Eric Bana - Australian Film Commission
• Bana interview, 2004, DarkHorizons
• Bana interview, 2003, Guardian UK
• Bana interview, 2003, Filmmonthly
• Eric Bana Central
• Eric Bana fan site
• The Eric Bana Home Page (fansite)
• Eric Bana Archives
• Eric Bana at IMDb
• Eric Bana Online
• "The Hulk of Munich" , A parody of the Munich trailer that adds footage from the Ang Lee film, "Hulk". Both films are starring Eric Bana.
• Rotten Tomatoes Eric Bana page