Herald Sun (Melbourne, Australia), May 1, 2002 p011 
Battered actor looks for a laugh. (News) 

Full Text: COPYRIGHT 2002 News Ltd. 

Byline: ALISON BARCLAY 

DAVID Wenham has had such a rough time lately, it's no wonder he's feeling funny. 

The SeaChange star, who also featured in The Lord of the Rings, is the latest big name to tread the boards for the Melbourne 
Theatre Company. 

Its production of Sam Shepard's play True West has almost sold out at the Victorian Arts Centre. 

But every performance demands brutal physical assaults that have left Wenham battered and exhausted. 

The actor, who has built his reputation on moody, slightly dangerous characters, wants to flaunt his comic capabilities. 

``I'm looking forward to doing something a little bit lighter in future,'' he says. 

``I would certainly love to do a ridiculous comedy, to be given the freedom to do something absolutely ridiculous, which 
in many ways is closer to what I essentially am, anyway.'' 

A ``high-concept comedy'' would suit him 

perfectly. 

``Not that I'm a big fan at all, but something like the films Jim Carrey does,'' he says. 

The hard-working Wenham will have six new films out this year: Collision Course, Dust, The Crocodile Hunter, Molokai, the 
British feature Pure and the second film in the Rings trilogy, The Two Towers. 
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