David Wenham Biography: Children, Height, Net Worth, Movies, Partner, Age, Career

David Wenham is an Australian actor who earned international recognition for his performance as Faramir in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy.

His rise to fame began in Australian film and television, where his ability to inhabit very different characters—whether in dramas, fantasy, or action epics—earned praise.

Over time he has become known not just for blockbuster roles like 300 and Van Helsing, but also for grounded, Australian productions such as SeaChange and Gettin’ Square.

Profile

• Full name: David Wenham
• Date of birth: 21 September 1965
• Age: 60 years old
• Gender: Male
• Place of birth: Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia
• State/County of origin: New South Wales, Australia
• Nationality: Australian
• Profession: Actor (film, television, theatre), voice actor
• Height: 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
• Eye color: Blue
• Hair color: Blonde
• Parents: Father Bill Wenham; Mother Kath Wenham
• Siblings: One older brother Peter; five older sisters Helen, Anne, Carmel, Kathryn, Maree
• Spouse: N/A (in a long-term relationship)
• Children: Eliza Jane Wenham; Millie Wenham
• Relationship status: Partner (Kate Agnew, since 1994)
• Religion: Roman Catholic
• Ethnicity: White
• Net worth: US$3 million

Early Life and education

David Wenham is now 60 years old. He was born on 21 September 1965 in Marrickville, a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales. His parents are Bill Wenham and Kath Wenham. He is the youngest of seven children, with one older brother (Peter) and five older sisters (Helen, Anne, Carmel, Kathryn, Maree). He was raised in the Roman Catholic faith.

He attended Christian Brothers’ High School in Lewisham, Sydney. After finishing secondary school he enrolled at Nepean College of Advanced Education (which later became part of the University of Western Sydney), and completed a Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts in 1987.

Personal Life

David Wenham has been in a long-term relationship with Kate Agnew (an actress and yoga teacher) since 1994. They have two daughters: Eliza Jane Wenham (born 2003) and Millie Wenham (born 2008). He tends to keep his private life relatively low-key.

Career

After graduating in 1987, David Wenham started acting in Australian television roles, including smaller parts in shows like A Country Practice, Sons and Daughters, Police Rescue among others. His early film work included Cosi (1996), which helped establish him in Australian cinema.

He gained widespread recognition in Australia with roles such as Diver Dan in SeaChange during the late 1990s. His role in The Boys (1998) was also significant in raising his profile. Internationally, his breakthrough came with his portrayal of Faramir in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003).

He also played notable roles such as Friar Carl in Van Helsing, Dilios in 300 and its sequel 300: Rise of an Empire, and Lieutenant John Scarfield in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. He has acted in Australian films such as The Bank, Gettin’ Square, Three Dollars, Australia among others.

In television, he has had major roles in series like Top of the Lake, The Code, and more. He also voices characters in animation, does theatre work, and in recent years has been involved in Spit (2025), a movie revisiting the character Johnny “Spit” Spitieri from Gettin’ Square.

Awards and Nominations

• Australian Film Institute Award for Best Lead Actor in Television Drama for Simone de Beauvoir’s Babies (1997) – won
• Australian Film Institute Award for Best Lead Actor in Television Drama for Answered by Fire (2006) – won
• Saturn Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for 300 (2007) – nominated

Net worth

David Wenham’s estimated net worth is about US$3 million. He has earned this through a long career in film, television, theatre, voice acting; both domestically in Australia and through international productions; along with residuals from major franchises and roles in high profile films.

Social Media

• Instagram: @wenhamdavid
• X (formerly Twitter): @WenhamDavid

Filmography

• Greenkeeping (1992)
• Seeing Red (1992)
• Don’t Touch Wood! (1993)
• Gino (1994)
• Tran the Man (1994)
• No Escape (1994)
• Roses Are Red (1995)
• Idiot Box (1996)
• Cosi (1996)
• The Boys (1998)
• Dark City (1998)
• A Little Bit of Soul (1998)
• Molokai: The Story of Father Damien (1999)
• Better Than Sex (2000)
• Russian Doll (2001)
• Moulin Rouge! (2001)
• The Bank (2001)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
• Gettin’ Square (2003)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
• Van Helsing (2004)
• Three Dollars (2005)
• The Proposition (2005)
• 300 (2007)
• Australia (2008)
• Public Enemies (2009)
• Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole (voice, 2010)
• Oranges and Sunshine (2010)
• 300: Rise of an Empire (2014)