2005 AFI Awards Hugo Weaving Interview

[marlenaoab]

He is best known for his roles as Agent Smith in the Matrix trilogy, Elrond in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, "V" in V for Vendetta and Megatron in the Transformers trilogy.

[Crowjane]

@marlenaoab Yes, but Hugo's Australian independent film roles-- like that in Little Fish, the film he received this award for-- are closest to his heart. As a fan I enjoy the variety. :)

[Rollonthefield]

@Crowjane Hes not australian, hes English.

[Crowjane]

@Rollonthefield Hugo is of English heritage but self-identifies as both English and Australian (he carries both British and Australian passports as well.) . He's lived in Australia since age 16. Most of my comments here on this subject address this.

[theanimeradioshow]

@Rollonthefield Dude, he's Nigerian. 'Nuff said.

[1993MovieMan]

@theanimeradioshow WRONG , he MAY have been born in Nigeria ! But , he`s An Aussie with Brit descent on his Mom`s side , has lived in Sydney AND London and speaks with A Mixed Aussie/Brit Accent

[1993MovieMan]

@theanimeradioshow That`s like sayin` I`m Glendalian EVEN THOUGH I`ve lived in Long Beach MOST OF my life and have A Mixed Long Beach/New York Accent !

[tolkienina]

:( I want english lern, just for understand (je éspère que j'ai bien écrit)

[Crowjane]

Sorry, I thought that winking smileys were the universal indicator of jokes. I merely meant that everyone has a regional accent, though it's typical for Americans to think they don't and everyone else does. Hugo Weaving rarely uses his natural accent when playing characters in films... parts requiring a mixed Australian and English accent don't come up that often.

[mereobservation]

I can identify with that...being an American and having lived in England for six years, I often have people who don't know me, on the phone, unable to "figure out" where I'm from. Even friends back home say I sound completely English, while my English friends say I sound very American.

Bottom line: it's fun having a mixed accent :-)

[chamillionator8]

No way. He has an accent!?!?!?!

Why wasn't this apparent when he was playing Agent Smith in the Matrix????

[Crowjane]

Actually, Agent Smith had a very pronounced American accent. Australians are actually the only people on earth who speak without any accent at all. ;)

[chamillionator8]

???

[Tuddel01]

That comment is, indeed, a bit odd.

[tomjb24]

ha, ha, ha

[TehCream]

@Crowjane Well actually they speak with Australian accents.

[Crowjane]

@TehCream You clearly haven't read the whole thread... which, granted, became ridiculous after awhile (my "no accent" comment was a joke based on the perception many people have that their countrymen don't have an accent, it's just everyone else in the world that does). Suffice to say the hosts speak with Australian accents, Hugo Weaving with an accent with both English and Australian notes.

[BloodMagex]

Same thing with Hugh Laurie who plays "House M.D." He has a heavy accent but can change his voice.

[sackofba11s]

He was born in Nigeria and later moved to the UK. Sorry if I'm wrong, that's what Wikipedia says.

[Crowjane]

Wikipedia isn't always correct; in this case they're right, but Weaving's incidental birthplace has nothing to do with his citizenship. He was born in Nigeria to British parents and left within a few months. He grew up in Britain, South Africa and Australian in several different cities and settled permanently in Australia at sixteen. In many interviews Hugo has mentioned having dual citizenhship, and having strong ties to both Britain and Australia, though he feels most at home in Australia.

[sdmf6266]

okey im comfused,

does he live in uk or australia!

[Crowjane]

Hugo Weaving has lived in Australia since age 16.

[sdmf6266]

now were does he live know?

[Crowjane]

Um...as I said, he has lived in Australia since age 16. More specifically in the Sydney area.

[sdmf6266]

oh sorry ok

[1993MovieMan]

@Crowjane Funny , that`s the age I am now !

[charlieiscool1000]

well his parents are English and he even went too bristol university in England when he was younger but he lives in Australia so he prob feels more aussie than british and hes a good actor quite underrated

[clatequila]

he's not australian by the way...he's english!!

[Crowjane]

Technically Hugo Weaving has a dual citizenship and passports for both Australia and the UK, but has lived in Australia full time since age 16 and prefers to work there. His parents were English but the family only lived in Britain for brief periods while Hugo and his siblings were growing up.

[itsageoffrushthing]

He's excellent! Thanks so much for the vid.

[nelitoduum]

Hugo weaving is the best australian actor after Geoffrey Rush.

[itsageoffrushthing]

agreed.

[hattlort]

No, Hugo is the best :D

[dgmpepper]

He's cute :) Thanks for putting this up