Hugo Weaving

Hugo Weaving
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Name:
Hugo Weaving
Real name:
Hugo Wallace Weaving
Who is:
Birth date:
(65 y.o.)
Place of birth:
Ibadan, British Nigeria
Height:
6'2 ft ()
Weight:
183 lb (83 kg)
Relationship:
married
Birth Sign:
(characteristic)
Chinese zodiac:
Links:

Biography of Hugo Weaving

Hugo Wallace Weaving may not be an A-list celebrity, but he's built an impressive filmography packed with memorable roles, from Agent Smith in "The Matrix" to Elrond in "The Lord of the Rings".
Hugo Weaving
Hugo Weaving

Early Years

Hugo Weaving was born in Ibadan, Nigeria, on April 4, 1960. His father Wallace worked as a seismologist, while his mother Anna was a teacher with a passion for tourism. The family also comprised two other children, an older son named Simon and a younger daughter, Anna-Jane.
Hugo Weaving during his school years
Hugo Weaving during his school years
The Weavings moved around quite a bit, giving young Hugo the chance to experience life in South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Australia. The future actor completed his secondary education at a private school in Bristol.

Around this time, Hugo suffered his first epileptic seizure. Doctors quickly got his condition under control, but he's had to stay on medication ever since.
Young Hugo Weaving
Young Hugo Weaving
Weaving continued his educational journey at the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Australia, graduating in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Acting Career

Weaving started his career in theater and initially wanted to focus on stage work. But after landing several small roles on Australian TV, he discovered he preferred working on camera to being on stage.

His breakthrough came with the series "Bangkok Hilton" (1989), starring Nicole Kidman.
Hugo Weaving and Nicole Kidman in the series "Bangkok Hilton"
Hugo Weaving and Nicole Kidman in the series "Bangkok Hilton"
Two years later, he appeared alongside Russell Crowe in the film "Proof" (1991).
Hugo Weaving and Russell Crowe in the film "Proof"
Hugo Weaving and Russell Crowe in the film "Proof"
Weaving's career took off, though the projects ranged from critically acclaimed to relatively under-the-radar. One standout film of that era includes "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" (1994).
Hugo Weaving in the film "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert"
Hugo Weaving in the film "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert"
In 1995, Weaving ventured into voice acting, lending his voice to Rex in "Babe" (1995), and later reprised the role in the sequel "Babe: Pig in the City" (1998).

Another critical juncture arrived in 1999 with "The Matrix" by the Wachowski siblings. The film instantly turned everyone involved into legends among sci-fi fans.
Hugo Weaving in The Matrix Reloaded
Hugo Weaving in The Matrix Reloaded
No matter how many roles Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Laurence Fishburne, or indeed Hugo Weaving himself have undertaken, fans still primarily associate them with this groundbreaking cyberpunk thriller. Weaving's character, Agent Smith - a Matrix program given human form - becomes a rogue threat that even the Architect can't control.
Agent Smith Interrogation
Weaving cemented his status as a fantasy icon, playing the half-elf Elrond, lord of Rivendell, in "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" (2001) and the subsequent installments of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic saga.
Hugo Weaving as Elrond (LOTR)
In 2006, two very different projects showcased Weaving's versatility. He returned to voice acting in "Happy Feet," and took on the iconic masked vigilante role in the dystopian thriller "V for Vendetta".
Hugo Weaving in the film "V for Vendetta"
Hugo Weaving in the film "V for Vendetta"
He voiced the villainous Megatron across three Transformers films, beginning with "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" (2009). Weaving also returned to television with "Rake" in 2010.
Hugo Weaving as Red Skull in "Captain America: The First Avenger"
Hugo Weaving as Red Skull in "Captain America: The First Avenger"
Marvel cast him as the menacing Red Skull in "Captain America: The First Avenger" (2011), and the Wachowskis brought back their frequent collaborator for the ambitious "Cloud Atlas" (2012).
Steve Rogers Meets Red Skull
Jackson was clearly impressed enough to bring Weaving back for his Hobbit prequel trilogy. Thus, Weaving ended up in "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" (2012).
A still from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
A still from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
In 2014, he worked with Nicole Kidman for the second time on the film "Strangerland". He also appeared in Mel Gibson's acclaimed comeback film "Hacksaw Ridge" (2016), where Weaving also had a part.
Hugo Weaving and Nicole Kidman in the film "Strangerland"
Hugo Weaving and Nicole Kidman in the film "Strangerland"
In 2018, Weaving played one of the leading roles in the post-apocalyptic film "Mortal Engines" - Thaddeus Valentine, the leader of the Guild of Historians. Notably, the main role in the film was played by Samara Weaving, his niece.
Hugo Weaving in Mortal Engines
Hugo Weaving in Mortal Engines
A little earlier, fans could see the actor in the series "Patrick Melrose", where Benedict Cumberbatch took the spotlight.
Hugo Weaving in Patrick Melrose
Hugo Weaving in Patrick Melrose
Rumors circulated that Weaving might return to the role of Red Skull in "Avengers: Endgame," but he was replaced by actor Ross Marquand.

Hugo Weaving's Personal Life

Since 1984, the actor has been in a de facto marriage with Katrina Greenwood. They don't need a wedding - both are skeptical of the formality.
You do or you don't know know whether your relationship is solid. And even if you think it is and you get married, that doesn't mean it is... So you have to work on it either way.
Perhaps their approach is right - after all these years, Weaving has never been spotted with another woman, proving that true feelings don't need formal confirmation.
Hugo Weaving with his wife Katrina Greenwood
Hugo Weaving with his wife Katrina Greenwood
The couple has a son, Harry, and a daughter, Holly. The family is permanently based in Sydney, though work often requires Weaving to travel, with his loved ones occasionally joining him.
Hugo Weaving with his wife and children
Hugo Weaving with his wife and children
Hugo's brother, Simon, is a producer; his sister, Anna-Jane, is a singer; his nieces, Samara and Morgan, are actresses. His son has also followed in his father's footsteps, but uses his mother's surname to avoid unwanted associations.

Hugo Weaving Now

Weaving was eager to star in the fourth "Matrix" film (released in December 2021) and was even invited to read the script with Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss, but director Lana Wachowski dropped his character.

The reason was a simple scheduling conflict: the actor had a six-month contract with the National Theater, and filming fell exactly during this period in Berlin. Wachowski wouldn't accommodate Weaving, so Agent Smith appeared in "The Matrix Resurrections" only in flashback scenes. Hugo admitted he regretted Lana's decision, as he really wanted to work with old friends again on the same set, but he was still looking forward to the premiere.
Hugo Weaving and Bojana Novakovic
Hugo Weaving and Bojana Novakovic
Since 2021, he has been filming in the Australian series "Love Me" alongside Serbian actress Bojana Novakovic.