Paradigm Talent Agency (US - Agent)
Matt Whelan
- Age Range
- 32 - 40
- Ethnicity
- NZ European
- Locations
- Regional North Island NZ
- Height
- 194cm / 6ft 4in
- Bust/Chest
- 106cm / 42in
- Waist
- 88cm / 35in
- Hips
- 101cm / 40in
Bio
Matt Whelan is a New Zealand actor, based in Auckland. His breakthrough performance was as Brad Caulfield in the South Pacific Pictures comedy-drama series Go Girls - his performance earning him the Qantas Film and Television Award for Best Supporting Actor.
A graduate of Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School, his film credits include My Wedding and Other Secrets and The Most Fun You Can Have Dying, performances in both films gained him nominations for Best Actor at the New Zealand Film Awards. Other screen credits include: Top of the Lake series, where he starred alongside Elisabeth Moss, 3 Mile Limit (2014) and the 2017 remake of kiwi classic Pork Pie.
In 2017, Whelan played the icon, Hugh Hefner in Amazon's American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story. He was then cast as DEA agent Daniel Van Ness, a major supporting role in season 3 of Netflix's top rated show Narcos. Matt's most recent credits include core cast of the BBC adaptation of Eleanor Catton's Man Booker prize winning The Luminaries, released early 2020 followed by Canadian/New Zealand 8 episode, Television series, The Sounds playing the lead role of Tom Cabbott.
Most recently, it was announced he would join the core cast of Under the Vines, starring Rebecca Gibney.
Film
| Year | Production | Role | Production Company / Director | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Pork Pie | Noah | Blondini Enterprises Ltd, dir. Matt Murphy | Feature Film |
| 2016 | Gary of the Pacific | Nelson | Dir. The Downlow Concept | Feature Film |
| 2015 | 25 April | John Persson | GFC Limited , dir. Leanne Pooley | Feature Film |
| 2014 | 3 Mile Limit | Richard Davis (lead) | No. 8 Films, dir. Craig Newland | Feature Film |
| 2012 | The Most Fun You Can Have Dying | Michael (lead) | Heimatfilm, Chocolate Fish Productions, Neon Productions, dir. Kirstin Marcon | Feature Film |
| 2011 | My Wedding and Other Secrets | James (co-lead) | 2010 Productions, dir. Roseanne Liang | Feature Film |
| 2008 | Show of Hands | Matt | Great Southern Films, dir. Anthony McCarten | Feature Film |
| 2007 | Eagle vs Shark | Kissing Boy | Sad Animals Productions, dir. Taika Cohen | Feature Film |
Television
| Year | Production | Role | Production Company / Director | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Under the Vines | Ben | Libertine Pictures | Drama |
| 2020 | My Life Is Murder 2 | Connor | Greenstone | Drama |
| 2020 | The Sounds | Tom Cobbott | Acorn TV, dir. Peter Stebbings | Drama |
| 2020 | The Luminaries | Cowell Devlin | Dir. Claire McCarthy, Working Title Television and Southern Light Films | Drama |
| 2018 | Wanted 3 | Alistair | Wanted 3 Productions | Drama |
| 2017 | Narcos S3 | Daniel van Ness | Netflix | Drama |
| 2017 | American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story | Hugh Hefner | Stephen David Entertainment | Drama |
| 2016 | Of Kings and Prophets | Mattiyahu | American Broadcasting Company (ABC) | Drama |
| 2014 | Coverband | Alex | The Downlow Concept | Drama |
| 2013 | Top Of The Lake | Little Shane | Dir. Jane Campion, Garth Davis, Top Of The Lake Productions | Drama |
| 2013 | Running - Trei, feat. Thomas Oliver | Lead | Sakowski Studios, dir. Alan Morrison | Other |
| 2012 | These Prison Walls - Concord Dawn, feat. Thomas Oliver | Lead | Sakowski Studios, dir. Aleksander Sakowski | Other |
| 2009 - 2012 | Go Girls S1-4 | Brad Caulfield | South Pacific Pictures | Drama |
| 2007 | My Story | Regan | Gibson Group, dir. Peter Salmon | Drama |
| 2005-06 | Tough Act | Self | Gibson Group, dir. Stuart McKenzie | Drama |
| 2005 | Bring the Money Back Baby - OdESSa | Featured | Dir. Ivan Slavov | Other |
Web Series
| Year | Production | Role | Production Company / Director | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Stake Out | Salesman | Dir. Thomas Sainsbury |
Theatre
| Year | Production | Role | Production Company / Director | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Belleville | Zack | Silo Theatre, dir. Oliver Driver | |
| 2012 | Private Lives | Elyot Chase | Silo Theatre, dir. Shane Bosher | |
| 2009 | Holding the Man | Biscuit, Lee, Marie, Peter and various others | Silo Theatre, dir. Shane Bosher | |
| 2008 | The Man, The Pie and The Taxi Guy | The Man | Bats Theatre, dir. Matt Whelan | |
| 2007 | Angels in America | Prior Walter | Downstage Theatre, dir. Willem Wassenaar | |
| 2007 | Moulding Man (devised solo) | Narrator, John, Jesus, God | NZDS, dir. Jade Erikson, Matt Whelan | |
| 2007 | Antigone (Sophocles) | Creon | Oerol Festival, The Netherlands, dir. Willem Wassenaar | |
| 2007 | After Margritte | Chief Inspector Foot | NZDS, dir. Patrick Davies | |
| 2007 | Antigone (Jean Anouilh) | Creon | Dir. Willem Wassenaar | |
| 2006 | The Fifth Column | Philip | Dir. Willem Wassenaar | |
| 2006 | Henry IV (parts I, II, III) | Somerset, Chorus | NZDS, dir. David O'Donnell | |
| 2006 | Myth, Propaganda and Disaster in Nazi Germany and Contemporary America | Man | NZDS, dir. Vanessa Byrnes | |
| 2006 | Delicates (devised show) | Darsy Jonson | Dir. Willem Wassenaar | |
| 2005 | Taming of the Shrew | Petruchio | NZDS, dir. Kerryn Palmer | |
| 2004 | Falling Petals | Phil Moss (lead) | Hagley Theatre Company, dir. Darryl Low | |
| 2004 | The Reluctant Messiah | Daz Capital (lead) | Hagley Theatre Company, dir. Darryl Low | |
| 2004 | The Season at Sasparilla | Roy Child | Hagley Theatre Company, dir. Cameron Mattox |
Short Film
| Year | Production | Role | Production Company / Director | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | DANIEL | The Carpenter | Dir. Claire van Beek | Short Film |
| 2014 | Dancers | David | Dir. Louise Leitch | Short Film |
| 2007 | Bad Trip | David | Dir. Louis Sutherland | Short Film |
| 2006 | The Other Side | Fit Guy | Dir. Matthew Mawkes | Short Film |
| 2006 | Dead Letters | Extra | Dir. Paolo Rotondo | Short Film |
| 2006 | Wrapped | Bob (lead) | Dir. John Callen | Short Film |
Commercial
| Year | Production | Role | Production Company / Director | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Zales | Lead Man | GSD&M | |
| 2009 - 2013 | Coca-Cola 'Heist' | Lead | Dir. Kylie Matulick & Todd Mueller |
Voice
| Year | Production | Role | Production Company / Director | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Into the Dead 2 - Ghostbusters Event | Egon, Peter, Bad Guys | Pik Pok/Prodigy Design Ltd | |
| 2012 | Telecom Businesss | Saatchi & Saatchi Auckland |
Training
| Year | Description | Institution / Presenter | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-07 | Bachelor of Performing Arts (Acting) | Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School | ||
| 2004 | Hagley Theatre Company | |||
| 2003 | NMIT - National Certificate in Radio Broadcasting |
Accents
Advanced: American - General | American - New York | American - Southern | Australian | British | Maori | New Zealand | UK - Cockney | UK - English
Intermediate: European | French | Irish
Sports
Advanced: Basketball | Swimming
Intermediate: Canoeing | Cycling | Yoga
Driving & Flying
Advanced: Driving (general)
Singing Range
Baritone | Bass
Singing Styles
Intermediate: Cabaret
Musical Instruments
Advanced: Clarinet | Recorder | Saxophone