Ben Winspear

Ben Winspear
Benjamin Winspear 2012 AACTA
Born1975 or 1976 (age 49–50)[1]
Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
EducationNational Institute of Dramatic Art (1997)
OccupationActor
Known forUnderbelly: Badness (2012)
Bay of Fires (2023)
PartnerMarta Dusseldorp
Children2
AwardsHelpmann Award for Best Male Actor in a Play

Ben Winspear (born 1975 or 1976[1]) is an Australian actor and director. He has an extensive history performing for theatre, and on screen is known for appearing in comedy drama series Bay of Fires (2023).

Early life

Ben Winspear was born around 1975/1976 in Wagga Wagga,[1] and was raised alongside younger brother Dallas in Hobart, Tasmania, where he attended an alternative community school. His father Les was a founding member of Hobart's Big Monkey Theatre.[2]

In 1995, at the age of 19, Winspear relocated to Sydney, after being accepted into the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA). He graduated in 1997, with a Bachelor of Dramatic Art (Acting).[2][3]

Career

Stage

Winspear has had a long career in theatre, as actor, adaptor, assistant director, director, dramaturge, lighting designer, performer, scenic artist and set designer. His first credited role was as flyman for a 1990 production of Don Pasquale at the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music.[4][5]

In 1998, after graduating from NIDA, Winspear was cast as Edmund in a production of King Lear for Bell Shakespeare.[2] In 2002, he appeared in Same Same But Different, a major work created by Kate Champion with dance theatre company Force Majeure, touring the eastern states of Australia.[6][4] That same year, he appeared in a stage production of Great Expectations at the Sydney Opera House.[7]

Winspear was resident director at Sydney Theatre Company from 2003 to 2005, during which time he directed Morph, These People, This Little Piggy, The Metamorphosis, and Thyestes.[8]

In 2008, Winspear played Viktor in a Sydney Theatre Company production of Frankenstein.[2] In 2009, he appeared in Baghdad Wedding for Company B.[9] He later appeared with wife Marta Dusseldorp in Joanna Murray-Smith's adaptation of Ingmar Bergman's 1973 film Scenes from a Marriage for Queensland Theatre, in 2017.[10]

Additionally, Winspear was an associate artist for Sydney's Griffin Theatre Company, and has worked as assistant director with Barrie Kosky, Robyn Nevin, Howard Davies, Garry McDonald, and Jean-Pierre Mignon. Later, for Archipelago Productions, he directed sellout seasons of The Maids by Jean Genet, and Winterreise by Franz Schubert, as well as productions of The Bleeding Tree by Angus Cerini, which re-opened the Theatre Royal, and Venus and Adonis.[8]

Screen

Winspear had a significant role in period drama series A Place to Call Home, playing René Nordmann, a war-damaged Jewish refugee and love interest for lead character Sarah Adams, played by his wife, Marta Dusseldorp.[11] She also had in a main role in Underbelly: Badness, the fifth season of the Underbelly crime drama franchise, playing the task force's second-in-command, Detective Sergeant Tim Browne, opposite Jonathan LaPaglia and Matt Nable.[12][13]

In 2014, Winspear had a recurring role as Sebastian Strong in Rake.[14] That same year, he featured in horror film The Babadook, opposite Essie Davis and Daniel Henshall as the deceased husband of Davis's character.[15] He then had a guest role as Con Heliotis in 2015 miniseries House of Hancock, opposite Mandy McElhinney, Peta Sergeant and Sam Neill.[16] The following year, he appeared in drama thriller film Bad Girl, with Samara Weaving.[17]

Winspear played the ongoing part of Sam in comedy series Rosehaven, from 2020 to 2021.[18][19] More recently, he has appeared as Rowan Furness, a public servant in two episodes of crime comedy-drama series Bay of Fires in 2023. The series was co-produced by his company, Archipelago Productions.[20][21]

Other activities

Winspear is co-owner, with his wife Marta Dusseldorp, of film production company Archipelago Productions, in Hobart, Tasmania.

Winspear has been on the judging panel for the Patrick White Award and Young Writers Award.[8]

Awards and nominations

Year Work Award Category Result Ref.
2002Great ExpectationsHelpmann AwardsBest Male Actor in a PlayNominated[22]
2009Baghdad WeddingHelpmann AwardsBest Male Actor in a PlayWon[23]
Baghdad WeddingSydney Theatre AwardsBest Male Actor in a Lead RoleNominated[24]
2010My PlaceAustralian Film Institute AwardsBest Guest or Supporting Actor in a Television DramaNominated[25]
2020Gruesome Playground InjuriesTasmanian Theatre AwardsBest Direction (Professional Theatre)Nominated[26]
2022The MaidsTasmanian Theatre AwardsBest Direction (Professional Theatre)Won[27]
The Bleeding TreeTasmanian Theatre AwardsBest Direction (Professional Theatre)Nominated[27]
2024Past the ShallowsTasmanian Theatre AwardsBest Direction (Professional Theatre)Won[28]
Women of TroyTasmanian Theatre AwardsBest Direction (Professional Theatre)Nominated[29]

Personal life

Winspear is married to actress Marta Dusseldorp. The couple met at the Sydney Theatre Company, while he was resident director and she was appearing in a production of The Way of the World. They met again later that year in Berlin, whereupon their relationship developed.[2] They were married in February 2006.[30]

The couple have two daughters.[1] In 2018, the family relocated from their home in inner Sydney, to Hobart.[2][30]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2008Every Other WeekendBartShort[31]
2011LovelessMaxShort[32]
2012RicochetOliverShort[33]
2013The Last GoodbyeJoel
2014The BabadookOskar[15]
2015Breeding in CaptivityAndrewFilm

[34]

2016Bad GirlPeter Anderson[35][17]
PerryBen's MateShort
2017Remembering AgathaBillShort[36]
PileFatherShort
The SuitorMr SappletonShort[37]
2021Finding JeddaShort[38]

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2009My PlaceMichaelis2 episodes[39]
2011CrowniesDr Preston1 episode[40]
Panic at Rock IslandBaz GahaTV movie[41]
2012Underbelly: BadnessDetective Sergeant Tim Browne8 episodes[42][12][13]
2014Black ComedyGuest2 episodes[43]
Old SchoolRodger1 episode
RakeSebastian Strong3 episodes[14]
2014–2015A Place to Call HomeDr. René Nordmann11 episodes[11]
2015House of HancockCon HeliotisMiniseries, 1 episode[16]
2020–2021RosehavenSam3 episodes[18][19]
2023Bay of FiresRowan Furness2 episodes[30][20]
2026 Ground Up Garth 1 episode (1.6)

Theatre

As cast

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1998King LearEdmundBell Shakespeare[2]
2002Same Same But DifferentAustralian tour with Force Majeure[6]
Great ExpectationsSydney Opera House[7]
2006Now That Communism Is Dead My Life Feels EmptyMalthouse Theatre, Melbourne with B Sharp[44]
2008FrankensteinViktorSydney Theatre Company[2]
2009Baghdad WeddingSalimBelvoir St Theatre, Sydney[9][45]
2011FaustusFaustusBrisbane Powerhouse with QTC[46]
2014Emerald CityMike McCordStables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Co[47]
2015Elektra / OrestesAegisthusBelvoir St Theatre, Sydney[48]
2017Scenes from a MarriageJohanPlayhouse, Brisbane with QTC[10][49]
2019The MaresAchillesPeacock Theatre, Hobart with Tasmanian Theatre Company[50]
2020Venus and AdonisAdonisOnline at St David's Cathedral, Hobart with Archipelago Productions & regional tour with 10 Days on the Island[51][52]

As crew

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1990Don PasqualeFlymanTasmanian Conservatorium of Music[4][5]
2000OedipusAssistant DirectorWharf Theatre, Sydney with STC[53]
2001Stones in His PocketsAssistant DirectorFairfax Studio, Melbourne with MTC[53]
King LearDirectorSTC[51]
2002MacbethDirectorWharf Theatre, Sydney with STC[54]
SavedDirectorNIDA, Sydney[55]
2003The TempestDirectorWharf Theatre, Sydney with STC[51]
Le Grand MacabreAssistant DirectorKomische Oper Berlin[53]
MorphDirectorWharf Theatre, Sydney with STC[51]
2004ThyestesDirectorWharf Theatre, Sydney with STC[51]
VictoryCo-directorWharf Theatre, Sydney with STC[51]
The MiserAssistant DirectorSydney Opera House with STC[53]
2005The MetamorphosisDirectorMalthouse Theatre, Melbourne with STC[56]
This Little PiggyDirectorWharf Theatre, Sydney with STC[57]
2008PantagleizeDirectorMyers Studio, Sydney with UNSW[58]
The Women of TroyAssistant DirectorMerlyn Theatre, Melbourne with STC[59]
2009SilverDirectorBelvoir, Sydney[60]
2011Don Parties OnAssistant DirectorPlayhouse, Melbourne with MTC[53][61]
Sweet Bird andsoforthTranslatorMess Hall with atyp Under the Wharf, Sydney[62]
2014Monkey – An Epic Tale of Cosmic StruggleDirectorUNSW, Sydney[63]
2016GloriaAssociate DirectorGriffin Theatre Co[51]
The Good WolfDirectorGriffin Theatre Co
Insect!DirectorUNSW, Sydney[51]
These PeopleDirector
The BluebirdDirectorCranbrook School[53]
The Cherry OrchardAssistant Director[53]
The Garden of ParadiseDirector10 Days on the Island[51][53]
2018The Feather in the WebDirectorStables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Co[64]
Twelve Times He SpokeDirectorBlue Cow Theatre with Performing Lines[65]
2019Gruesome Playground InjuriesDirectorMoonah Arts Centre, Hobart with Tasmanian Theatre Co[66]
2020Venus and AdonisDirectorOnline with St David's Cathedral, Hobart & Archipelago Productions; regional tour with 10 Days on the Island[51][52]
The Bleeding TreeDirectorOnline with Theatre Royal, Hobart, Archipelago Productions & Blue Cow Theatre[53][67]
Perfect StrangerAcademy of the Arts, Launceston with UTAS & Archipelago Productions[68]
2021WinterreiseDirectorOld Mercury Building, Hobart with Archipelago Productions[53][69]
The MaidsDirectorPlayhouse, Hobart with Archipelago Productions[70]
The Masque of the Red DeathDirectorSt David's Cathedral, Hobart with Archipelago Productions & Mona Foma[71]
2023The Carbon Neutral Adventures of the Indefatigable EnviroteensDirectorTheatre Royal, Hobart with Archipelago Productions[51]
2024Past the ShallowsDirectorTheatre Royal, Hobart with ATYP & Archipelago Productions[72]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Coslovich, Gabriella (25 September 2020). "Marta Dusseldorp and Ben Winspear: the thespians who want to reboot Tasmania". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Coslovich, Gabriella (29 November 2024). "Curtain Call" (PDF). Good Weekend. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  3. ↑ "All Alumni Table". National Institute of Dramatic Art. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 "Ben Winspear", AusStage
  5. 1 2 "Don Pasquale". AusStage. 4 May 1990. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  6. 1 2 "Same, same But Different". Force Majeure. Archived from the original on 10 April 2013.
  7. 1 2 Munro, Peter (18 October 2002). "Bobby Dazzler – Stage". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  8. 1 2 3 "Ben Winspear". Archipelago Productions. 15 March 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  9. 1 2 Hallett, Bryce (13 February 2009). "Powerful odyssey of love, sex and war". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  10. 1 2 "Scenes from a Marriage". Australian Arts Review. 6 November 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  11. 1 2 Kalina, Paul (26 June 2014). "Actor Ben Winspear plays opposite his wife Marta Dusseldorp in A Place To Call Home". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  12. 1 2 "Underbelly baddie – is a Perish killer". Centralian Advocate. 24 April 2012.
  13. 1 2 "Underbelly – Badness: episode guide | Series 5". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  14. 1 2 "Rake: episode guide". australiantelevision.net. 24 May 2026.
  15. 1 2 Foundas, Scott (6 February 2014). "Film Review: The Babadook". Variety. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  16. 1 2 "House of Hancock" (PDF). cjz.com.au. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  17. 1 2 Stratton, David (29 April 2017). "The hermit's kingdom". The Australian.
  18. 1 2 "Rosehaven: episode guide | Series 4". australiantelevision.net. 24 May 2026.
  19. 1 2 "Rosehaven: episode guide | Series 5". australiantelevision.net. 24 May 2026.
  20. 1 2 Enker, Debi (13 July 2023). "Marta Dusseldorp battles dark undercurrents in Tasmania's Wild West". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  21. ↑ "Bay of Fires: cast". australiantelevision.net. 24 May 2026.
  22. ↑ Gibson, Joel (11 April 2003). "Stars strut their stuff for Bobbys". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  23. ↑ Lalak, Alex (28 July 2009). "Witches cast a spell at awards". The Daily Telegraph.
  24. ↑ "2009 Nominees & Winners". Sydney Theatre Awards. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  25. ↑ "Baker, Collette in mix for this year's AFI awards". Daily Mercury. 14 November 2010.
  26. ↑ "Theatre Council Tasmania 2020 Awards". archipelago-productions.com. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  27. 1 2 "2022 Nominees & Winners". theatrecounciltas.org. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  28. ↑ "2023 Nominees & Winners". theatrecounciltas.org. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  29. ↑ "2024 Nominees & Winners". theatrecounciltas.org. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  30. 1 2 3 "EXCLUSIVE: Marta Dusseldorp explains how moving to Tasmania inspired new series Bay of Fires". nowtolove.com.au. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  31. ↑ "Every Other Weekend – Full Cast & Crew". TV Tonight. 23 May 2026.
  32. ↑ "Palpable Films | Loveless". palpablefilms.wordpress.com. 24 May 2026.
  33. ↑ "Ricochet". laurascrivano.com. 24 May 2026.
  34. ↑ "Breeding in Captivity". mastfilms.com.au. 24 May 2026.
  35. ↑ "Bad Girl – Full Cast & Crew". TV Tonight. 23 May 2026.
  36. ↑ "Remembering Agatha – Full Cast & Crew". TV Tonight. 23 May 2026.
  37. ↑ "Daniel Edmonds". National Film and Sound Archive. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  38. ↑ Awad, Amal. "Finding Jedda: The Chauvels are looking for Jedda". National Film and Sound Archive. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  39. ↑ "My Place: episode guide | Series 1". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  40. ↑ "Crownies: episode guide". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  41. ↑ "Panic at Rock Island". screenrant.com. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  42. ↑ Knox, David. "Nine confirms Underbelly: Badness". TV Tonight. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  43. ↑ "Black Comedy: episode guide | Series 1". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  44. ↑ "Now That Communism Is Dead My Life Feels Empty". malthousetheatre.com.au. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  45. ↑ Jackson, Kevin (18 February 2009). "Arts Reviews: 2008–2022 | Baghdad Wedding". kjtheatrediary.com. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  46. ↑ "Faustus Wedding". Theatregold. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  47. ↑ Jackson, Kevin (7 November 2014). "Arts Reviews: 2008–2022 | Emerald City". kjtheatrediary.com. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  48. ↑ Jackson, Kevin (20 April 2015). "Arts Reviews: 2008–2022 | Elektra / Orestes". kjtheatrediary.com. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  49. ↑ "Scenes From a Marriage". queenslandtheatre.com.au. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  50. ↑ Melbourne, Kath (25 March 2019). "Review: The Mares, Tasmanian Theatre Company". artshub.com.au. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  51. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "The Carbon Neutral Adventures of the Indefatigable Enviroteens by FIRST DOG ON THE MOON" (PDF). theatreroyal.com.au. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  52. 1 2 Jarman, Robert (13 October 2020). "Performing Arts Review: Venus and Adonis, St David's Cathedral (TAS)". artshub.com.au. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  53. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Ben Winspear | Producer/Director". archipelago-productions.com. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  54. ↑ "Macbeth, Sydney Theatre Company Blueprints". The Sydney Morning Herald. 22 May 2002. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  55. ↑ "Saved". theatreoz.au. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  56. ↑ "The Metamorphosis". malthousetheatre.com.au. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  57. ↑ Jackson, Kevin (19 October 2009). "Arts Reviews: 2008–2022 | The Trial". kjtheatrediary.com. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  58. ↑ "Students act up". unsw.edu.au. 14 March 2008. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  59. ↑ "The Women of Troy". malthousetheatre.com.au. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  60. ↑ Jackson, Kevin (19 October 2009). "Arts Reviews: 2008–2022 | Silver". kjtheatrediary.com. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  61. ↑ Chai, Paul (17 January 2011). "Don Parties On". Variety (magazine). Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  62. ↑ Jackson, Kevin (25 August 2011). "Arts Reviews: 2008–2022 | Sweet Bird andsoforth". kjtheatrediary.com. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  63. ↑ "5 Questions with Ben Winspear". suzygoessee.com. 22 February 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  64. ↑ Jackson, Kevin (17 October 2018). "Arts Reviews: 2008–2022 | The Feather in the Web". kjtheatrediary.com. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  65. ↑ "Twelve Times He Spoke". theatreroyal.com.au. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  66. ↑ "Gruesome Playground Injuries". moonahartscentre.org.au. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  67. ↑ "The Bleeding Tree". theatreroyal.com.au. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  68. ↑ "Leading creatives guide students in world-premiere performance". utas.edu.au. 1 October 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  69. ↑ "Winterreise | Franz Schubert | Archipelago Productions". detached.com.au. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  70. ↑ "The Maids". archipelago-productions.com. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  71. ↑ Jarman, Robert (25 January 2021). "Music Review: The Masque of the Red Death (MONA FOMA)". artshub.com.au. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  72. ↑ "Past the Shallows by Julian Larnach". theatreroyal.com.au. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
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