The Weekend Australian

Sept 1, 2001

Film gypsy happy to skip Hollywood

HE is the face of the moment in Australian cinema, but Hollywood doesn't

beckon for actor David Wenham.

The former SeaChange star is unhappy about the domination of US movies, and

says he is happy to travel the world as a ``cinematic gypsy'' in search of

quirky roles.

``There's always concern about Hollywood's dominance of world entertainment,''

he said yesterday after flying into Venice for the premiere of an offbeat

Balkan western called Dust, in which he stars alongside Shakespeare in Love

star Joseph Fiennes.

``Hollywood is a huge beast and the rest of the world does struggle, but it's

a fight worth persevering with. Europe and Asia seem to interest me a little

bit more than America. I like something that's not just fodder for the screen.

To be involved in disposable entertainment, that is just not for me,'' Wenham

said. ``If that means I lead a very frugal existence and don't earn much

money, then so be it. At least I'll be very happy.''

After starring in the new Australian film The Bank and appearing in Moulin

Rouge and Lord of the Rings this year, Wenham appears to be on his way to

international stardom.

But he is determined to continue working in Australian cinema.

``The danger is that our industry doesn't become homogenised and that we still

make our own films and tell our own stories with our own voices. There is room

for all of that,'' he said.

``We have a chip on our shoulder back home, tall poppy syndrome. It's strange

-- we're very hard on ourselves. Australian cinema is critically more

appreciated outside our country than at home.''