Line #35 Creator/ManuBennett


1	[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/manubennett_379.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:250:[[Series/SpartacusBloodAndSand Shall we begin]]?]]
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4	Jonathan Manu Bennett (born 10 October 1969), also known as John Bennett or Jon Bennett, is a UsefulNotes/NewZealand actor.
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6	Of Māori descent (Te Arawa and Ngāti Kahungunu) and born in UsefulNotes/{{Auckland}} to a singer and a fashion model, Manu's family relocated to UsefulNotes/{{Australia}} soon after his birth. During high school Manu played representative rugby and studied classical ballet and piano, before attending University of NSW to study Drama.
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9	!!He appeared in
10	* ''Series/BlueHeelers'' (1994) as Mark Daivies
11	* ''Series/BeastMaster'' (1999) as Terron Leader
12	* ''Series/XenaWarriorPrincess'' (2000) as Marc Antony
13	* ''Series/ShortlandStreet'' (2000 -- 2001) as Jack Hewitt
14	* ''Film/{{Lantana}}'' (2001) as Steve Valdez
15	* ''Film/TheMarine'' (2006) as Bennett
16	* ''Film/{{The Condemned\|2007}}'' (2007) as Paco
17	* ''Film/ThirtyDaysOfNight'' (2007) as Deputy Billy Kitka
18	* ''[[Series/SpartacusBloodAndSand Spartacus]]'' (2010 -- 2013) as Crixus
19	* ''Sinbad and the Minotaur'' (2011) as Sinbad
20	* ''Series/{{Arrow}}'' (2011 -- 2017) as [[ComicBook/{{Deathstroke}} Slade Wilson / Deathstroke]]
21	* ''Film/TheHobbit'' trilogy (2012 -- 2014) as Azog the Defiler
22	** ''Film/TheHobbitAnUnexpectedJourney'' (2012)
23	** ''Film/TheHobbitTheDesolationOfSmaug'' (2013)
24	** ''Film/TheHobbitTheBattleOfTheFiveArmies'' (2014)
25	* ''Series/TheShannaraChronicles'' (2016-2018) as Allanon the Druid.
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28	!!Tropes
29	* AbilityOverAppearance: The producers of ''Series/{{Arrow}}'' had the choice of either staying true to the comics and finding an American to play [[ComicBook/{{Deathstroke}} Slade Wilson]], or [[AdaptationalNationality altering the character to be Australian]] and hiring Bennett.
30	* ActorInspiredElement:[[invoked]]
31	** He had suggested the LoveTriangle with Shadow on ''Arrow'', and was surprised when they actually wrote it in, as he had played it differently.
32	** He based his performance as Azog on rugby player Norm Hewitt, who had bullied him in high school.
33	* CreatorBacklash:
34	** He was very disappointed by his guest spot in Season 3 of ''Series/{{Arrow}}'', where Slade suffered serious BadassDecay, and said it would be his last time playing the role. Luckily, the producers were able to placate him with a much better designed return in the Season 5 finale, leading to him becoming a recurring cast member again. [[invoked]]
35	** In an interview before the premiere of the FinaleSeason of ''Series/{{Spartacus\|BloodAndSand}}'', he lamented his belief that the show could go for one more season (seeing that said season is a CompressedAdaptation, he may have had a valid point).
36	* TheDanza: Played a character named Bennett in ''Film/TheMarine'' (the first one).
37	* DyeingForYourArt: While the rest of the cast of ''Series/{{Spartacus\|BloodAndSand}}'' underwent this, Manu took it to another level by growing both his hair long and a beard to fit Crixus' CharacterDevelopment.
38	* EnforcedMethodActing:[[invoked]] He opted to not drink alcohol at all while making ''Spartacus'' but made an exception for the scene in "Kill Them All" where Crixus confronts Lucretia - where he took a shot of whiskey before filming to properly get "away from myself".
39	* FakeNationality: Rarely ever plays an Australian or New Zealander.
40	* MaleFrontalNudity: He opted to play his first scene as Crixus completely naked, and did several other nude scenes on the show. He also refuted claims that he'd worn prosthetics in certain scenes, stating that any difference in size was mainly due to how cold the set was. Indeed, he was responsible for a rule being instated that the edit could not stay on a nude shot for more than three seconds - after filming the scene of Illythia and Lucretia ogling him before fighting Theokoles, which was shot in winter, and not realising how long the shot would linger on him for.
41	* MrFanservice: He is a TallDarkAndHandsome man who is also incredibly ripped. He even showed it frequently on the ''[[Series/SpartacusBloodAndSand Spartacus Series]]'', and we ''really'' mean [[MaleFrontalNudity show]].
42	* TheOtherMarty:[[invoked]] Conan Stevens initially played Azog and filmed all the motion capture, but Peter Jackson decided his performance wasn't working, and Manu was then cast to replace him.
43	* ProductionPosse: With Creator/SamRaimi but more so Rob Tapert, who cast him in both ''Series/{{Xena\|WarriorPrincess}}'' and ''Series/{{Spartacus\|BloodAndSand}}''. He also frequently appeared in Wrestling/{{WWE}} films during the middle of the TurnOfTheMillennium.
44	* RatedMForManly: Is frequently cast in these type of works, his StarMakingRole included.
45	* StarMakingRole: He's been around since TheNineties, but his role as [[Series/SpartacusBloodAndSand Crixus]] gave him recognition and boost.
46	* TallDarkAndHandsome: He stands 5'11.
47	* ThoseTwoActors: With Creator/LucyLawless and Creator/CynthiaAddaiRobinson.
48	* VacationDearBoy:[[invoked]] While impressed by the pitch for ''Series/TheShannaraChronicles'', the tipping point for him was the fact that it was filming in New Zealand and it meant he could work with his old friends from ''Spartacus''.
49	* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Was up for the title role in ''Film/ConanTheBarbarian2011'', Ronon Dex in ''Series/StargateAtlantis'' (both went to Creator/JasonMomoa) and Terry Sheridan in ''Film/LaraCroftTombRaiderTheCradleOfLife'' (went to Creator/GerardButler).
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51	'''[[ChewingTheScenery SHALL WE BEGIN?!!!!!!!!!]]'''

Context Creator / ManuBennett