Source:  The Sunday Telegraph (Surry Hills, Australia), March 21, 1999
            p190.
                                                                              
    Title:  Art of the chameleon.(FEATURES)

Byline: Paul LePetit


The only predictable thing about David Wenham is that he is going to produce a
brilliant performance.


Otherwise, it is becoming increasingly difficult to work out where or how he
will appear next.


He could be mild-mannered Dan The Diver, a high-camp Moliere character, a
leprosy-riddled priest, an anarchistic arsonist, a vicious murderer or even
(at the start of his career) on Sons and Daughters.


The enigma that is Wenham came to the fore during the rehearsals for the new
play, Art. It's about three friends whose relationship is profoundly affected
when one of them buys a work of art.


Wenham and his two co-stars, Tom Conti and John Waters, spent a day at the Art
Gallery of NSW choosing a favourite piece of art -something they could talk
about and discuss in rehearsals later.


While the others selected interesting, possibly provocative works, Wenham
chose a waiter pouring champagne for a function in the gallery that day.


"The objective was to find a piece of art we could take home and hang on our
wall," he says. "I thought the waiter would be very handy -you could bring him
out whenever you needed something poured."


Like many of the characters he has played, sometimes it is hard to tell
whether Wenham is laughing at you or with you.


Or, indeed, if he is laughing at all.


Anyway, if the Australian stage and screen has gained a great talent, the
insurance business has at the same time lost a talent. Wenham left school
Christian Brothers in Lewisham, where he discovered the joy of making his
classmates laugh -and, having been rejected by NIDA, took a job with the NRMA.


"My mother liked that," he says. "And they were disappointed to see me go -I
think I had a future as an insurance salesman."


And here's a pointer -he doesn't have insurance himself, apart from the
compulsory car insurance.


"You have to assess the risk you are taking -otherwise, you are just giving
money to people who have a lot of money already," he explains.


At any rate, and despite his mother's misgivings, he found himself in class at
Theatre Nepean, learning his trade and everything associated with it.


It was not long before his talent asserted itself publicly -mainly with The
Boys, at that stage a small play at The Stables.


A huge dramatic success, it took Wenham seven more years of pushing and
prodding to have it turned into a film (which garnered a heap of awards).


He treats his new-found fame and status with care.


"I am aware of the fact that it might all drop off tomorrow," he says.


And for Wenham fans, there is another series of Sea Change coming up.


But before that, look out for another side of one of our better young actors
in the witty and perspicacious Art.


Veteran British actor Tom Conti is already singing the praises of Wenham.


"This man is an exceptional talent," he says with genuine affection.


Art, by Yasmina Reza, opens at the Theatre Royal on April 3.


David Wenham will soon tread the boards in Art Picture: Kristi Miller
                                                                              
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