Leon Wadham
Leon Wadham (born 1989) is a New Zealand actor, writer and director. He is best known for his roles in the film Under the Mountain (2009), comedy series Go Girls (2013) and the Amazon Prime fantasy show The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022).
Leon Wadham | |
---|---|
Born | 1989 (age 33–34) |
Alma mater | Toi Whakaari |
Occupation(s) | Actor, writer, director |
Years active | 2000–present |
Early life
Wadham was born and raised in Karori, Wellington, New Zealand.[1][2] He attended Karori Normal School and Onslow College.[1] He studied at Toi Whakaari Drama School from 2009 to 2011, graduating with a bachelor's degree in Performing Arts (Acting).[3] He also received the Museum Art Hotel Scholarship Award in his final year of training.[4]
Career
Wadham started acting at a young age, and made his on-screen debut in 2000, appearing in a guest role in the sci-fi series The Tribe.[5] After finishing his education he also went on to become a filmmaker. He wrote and directed several short films, TV shows and plays starting from 2013.
In 2009, Wadham starred as Ricky in the fantasy film Under the Mountain, which was based on the novel of the same name.[6] In 2013, he joined the main cast of the fifth season of comedy drama Go Girls, where he played the role of Levi Hirsh.[7] He appeared in a supporting role in the 2019 crime drama The Bad Seed.
In 2020, he was cast in the Amazon Prime TV series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, which premiered in 2022.[8] He plays Kemen, Pharazôn's son, who was invented for the series.[9]
Personal life
As of 2022, Wadham resided in Auckland, New Zealand.[10] In 2023, he moved to London, England.[11]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2007 | Maintain | Mark | |
2008 | Jack & Jill | Jack | Short film |
2008 | Unorthodox My Balance Sheet | The Assistant | Short film |
2009 | Under the Mountain | Ricky | |
2009 | Monkeys Don't Mix | Inmate #1 | Short film |
2012 | A Bend in the Road | Dave | Short film |
2012 | The Catch | SPCA Agent | Short film |
2012 | Wellington | Noel | Short film |
2012 | Packed | Alex | |
2013 | Shopping | Fresh Face | |
2013 | Blankets | Jack | Short film |
2014 | School Night | – | Short film; writer and director |
2016 | Moving | – | Short film; writer and director |
2017 | Pork Pie | Young Cop | |
2020 | Weirdoes | Driver |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2000 | The Tribe | – | 1 episode |
2001 | Dark Knight | Tom | Series 2, episode 5: "Black Tree" |
2013 | Sunny Skies | – | Writer |
2013 | Go Girls | Levi Hirsh | |
2014 | Pirates of the Airwaves | Paul Lineham | Television film |
2015 | When We Go to War | Guy Weatherstone | |
2016 | Terry Teo | Jasper La Roux | Series 1, episode 4: "Head to Head" |
2017 | Why Does Love? | Adam Holt | Television film |
2018 | The Brokenwood Mysteries | Darryn Walker | Series 5, episode 2: "Bride Not to Be" |
2019 | Power Rangers Beast Morphers | Lab Assistant | Series 1, episode 1: "Beasts Unleashed" |
2019 | Roman Empire | Gemellus | Series 3, episode 2: "A New Hope" |
2019 | The Bad Seed | Matt Logan | |
2019–2020 | Golden Boy | – | Director |
2020 | The Citizen's Handbook | – | Director |
2020–2022 | Alice Snedden's Bad News | – | Writer and director |
2022–present | The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power | Kemen |
Stage
Year | Title | Role | Venue | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2000 | Nuncrackers | – | Stetson Productions | |
2001 | Rush | Singer/Dancer | Capital Theatre Productions | |
2007 | The Cape | Jordyn | Circa Theatre | |
2007 | The Henchmen | Captain Caffeine | Young and Hungry | |
2007 | Brain Power | Self Preservation | Out of Bounds | [12] |
2012 | Tribes | Billy | Silo Theatre / Q Theatre, Auckland | [13] |
2013 | Lord of the Flies | Ralph | Auckland Theatre Company / Maidment Theatre | [14] |
2018 | Giddy | Solo | Basement Theatre | [15] |
References
- "Wellington drama student wins scholarship". Wellington.Scoop. 10 November 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- Jones, Bridget (18 August 2013). "How to be a 'real' man". Stuff. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- "Graduates Te Hunga Whakapōtae". toiwhakaari.ac.nz. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- "Museum Art Hotel Scholarship Alumni". SGCNZ. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- "Leon Wadham Actor Profile". johnsonlaird.com. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- McKnight, Brent (10 September 2010). "'Under the Mountain' Is One Of Those Movies You Won't Mind Watching With Your Kids". PopMatters. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
- Winter, Chloe (21 May 2013). "Anonymity 'lovely' for Go Girls actor". Stuff. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- Otterson, Joe (December 3, 2020). "'Lord of the Rings' Series at Amazon Adds 20 Actors to Cast". Variety. Archived from the original on December 3, 2020. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
- Coggan, Devan (13 July 2022). "Welcome to Númenor: Get an exclusive look at The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power". Entertainment Weekly. Meredith Corporation. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
- Klein-Nixon, Kylie (11 September 2022). "Lord of the Rings: Kiwi actor Leon Wadham on playing the Donald Trump Jr of Middle-earth". Stuff. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- Oliver, Henry (23 April 2023). "Alice Snedden and Leon Wadham on Bad News". Metro. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
- "Brain Power Returns". Scoop. 6 March 2007. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
- "Play opens curtains on the Deaf world". Arts Access Aotearoa. 24 May 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
- Wenley, James (8 September 2013). "REVIEW: Lord of the Flies (Auckland Theatre Company)". Theatre Scenes. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
- Joe, Nathan (10 May 2018). "REVIEW: Leon Wadham: Giddy (NZ International Comedy Festival)". Theatre Scenes. Retrieved 5 May 2023.