Manu Bennett

Hailing from New Zealand, Manu Bennett is an actor best known for playing Azog in the Hobbit movie trilogy and Bennett in Crixus in Starz’s Spartacus.

Rotura-born Bennett discovered a love for performance, including dancing and music, and its use as a tool for channelling his emotions as a teenager. A natural, he pursued a university degree in dance and drama and soon won a scholarship to the prestigious Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in Los Angeles.

Bennett was quickly cast in his debut role, playing Kirk Barsby in Paradise Beach, a teen-targeted soap, which ran for over 200 episodes. Other early credits include Mark Davies in Blue Heelers, Joseph Lipinski in Water Rats, Darren in All Saints, Wanatcha DuValier in The Violent Earth, Terron Leader in BeastMaster and Marc Anthony in Xena: Princess Warrior.

A confident and well-liked actor, Bennett soon caught his big break when he was cast as Bennett in The Marine, acting alongside John Cena and Robert Patrick. From then on, Bennett was an in-demand talent, quickly winning a leading role as Crixus in Starz’s Spartacus. The new decade marked a shift in Bennett’s career; in 2012, he was cast as Azog in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey; the J. R. R. Tolkein adaptation was applauded by critics, earning three Oscar nominations. Bennett Reprised the role in the two subsequent instalments in the franchise.

In the years since, Bennett has appeared in a recurring role as Slade Wilson in the CW’s Arrow, and as Allanon in Spike’s The Shannara Chronicles. Additional credits include Jack Hewitt in Shortland Street, Dom in Head Start, Matt Urlich in Street Lega, John in Mataku, Brandon Bell in The Strip, Billy Kitka in 30 Days of Night, Patrucio in American Dad and Leone Vokk in Pandora.