Nicholas Hope

  1. Home
  2. Wiki

Nicholas Hope
Born1959 (age 65–66)
Manchester, England
EducationUniversity of Sydney
OccupationActor
Known forBad Boy Bubby (1993)

Nicholas Hope is a British-born Australian actor, director and teacher of acting, most notable for his performance as the lead role in the 1993 film Bad Boy Bubby.

Early life and education

[edit]

Born in 1959,[1] in Manchester, England,[1] Hope's family emigrated to the steel and he was raised in shipbuilding town of Whyalla, South Australia.[1] In 2010, he gained a PhD in Performance Studies at The University of Sydney.[2] In 2014, he was teacher of direction and acting for Film, at the Sydney Film School,[2] and was Head of Acting at the International Screen Academy, Sydney.[2]

Career

[edit]

Hope's first foray into live performance was as a bass player in a variety of rock bands around the in the 1970s and 1980s.[3]

He started his acting career, working in many productions for the State Theatre Company of South Australia.[1] He had only starred in one short film, before he got his big break[1] when he played the lead role of Bubby in 1993 cult crime comedy-drama film Bad Boy Bubby,[4][5] written and directed by Rolf de Heer. The role won him several best actor accolades, at the Australian Film Institute Awards, the Venice Film Festival in 1993, and France's Valenciennes Film Festival in 1995.[1]

In 1998, Hope was nominated for best supporting actor at the Amanda Awards for his performance in the Norwegian film En dag til i solen (1998).[2]

Subsequent film credits include The Goddess of 1967 (2000),[6] alongside Rose Byrne, family film Scooby-Doo (2002), opposite Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr., The Night We Called It a Day (2003), with Joel Edgerton, Dennis Hopper and Melanie Griffith, creature thriller Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid (2004) and Australian drama film Lost and Found (2005).[1] Later films include The Daughter (2015),[6] with Sam Neill and Geoffrey Rush, The School (2018),[7] The Invisible Man (2020)[6] alongside Elisabeth Moss and directed by Leigh Whannell, Moon Rock for Monday (2020)[8] and The Drover's Wife (2021),[3] opposite Leah Purcell.

He played lead roles in the 2012 films Redd Inc and Double Happiness Uranium.[6] He received a Film Critics Circle of Australia nomination for best actor in a supporting role for his role as Joseph in Ivan Sen's 2023 film, Limbo.[9]

Hope has also starred in numerous television series. He made early appearances in G.P., Blue Heelers, Farscape and Beastmaster. He starred in the award-winning 2001 miniseries Changi, as well as Gallipoli (2014) and Picnic at Hanging Rock (2018). His other television credits include Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, Offspring, Janet King, Ash Vs Evil Dead, Operation Buffalo, The Twelve, The Secrets She Keeps, The Messenger, The Artful Dodger, Black Snow and Ten Pound Poms.[6]

Hope is also a writer, director and producer. He made his writer/director debut with the play Little Gods in 2013. The following year, he directed Four Places for Outhouse Theatre, and in 2015 he directed his own play Five Properties of Chainmale for Griffin Theatre Company.[9][10][11] He directed the short film Like Gold (2017), and produced the 2019 short film The Reckoning of Christian Spencer.[9][3]

Hope recounted his experiences in the film industry – including his failure to secure main roles – in his 2004 memoir "Brushing the Tip of Fame".[1]

Recognition and awards

[edit]

A portrait of Hope appears in the National Portrait Gallery.[1]

Awards

[edit]
Year Work Award Category Result Ref.
1994 Bad Boy Bubby Australian Film Institute Awards Best Actor in a Leading Role Won [5]
Australian Cinematographers Society Won [1]
1993 Venice Film Festival CIAC (Popular) Prize for Best Performance Won [1][12]
1995 Valenciennes Film Festival Best Actor Won [1]
The Colour of Panic 100 0g Nå’ Ibsen Centenary Writing Prize Won [12]
2018 Jade of Death Denver Series-Fest Best Actor Won [9]
2024 Limbo Film Critics Circle of Australia Best Actor in a Supporting Role Nominated [9]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1989 Confessor Caressor Michael Freely
1993 Bad Boy Bubby Bubby [2]
1994 Exile MacKenzie
1995 The Life of Harry Dare Kevin
1996 Little White Lies
North Star Sheriff Lamont
Lust and Revenge Karl-Heinz Applebaum
1997 Applied Mathematics: Questions 1 to 10 John May Short film
Henry Fool Father Hawkes
1998 En dag til i solen Windy [2]
1999 The Darkest Light Father Mark
2000 Når mørket er forbi Edvin
Mother Said (a Year Younger) Short film
The Goddess of 1967 Grandpa
2001 Happy Mother's Day Dad Short film
2002 Harvey Short film
Scooby-Doo Old Man Smithers
2003 Paradise Found Maurrin
The 13th House Man from the 14th Floor
The Flaming Brain Eric Short film
The Night We Called It a Day Phil
Collier Brothers Syndrome Langley Collier Short film
2004 Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid Christian Van Dyke
2006 Uro Dealeren
Sharp Turn The Stranger Short film
Lost and Found Ebeneezer Wrench
2007 Bitter Flowers (aka Varg Veum - Bitre blomster) Warren Donaldson
2008 Lønsj Reataurantør
En perfekt dag for golf Julius the English golfer Short film
Ovum Short film
2010 The Passport Inspector Florez Short film
Complicity Man Short film
All at Sea Eric
2012 Butterflies Dalton Hearst Short film
Redd Inc. Thomas Reddmann
Decrepit Lawrence Wrinkle Short film
2013 Double Happiness Uranium Reuben Henschke
Greg's First Day Bernard Short film
2014 Permafrost Max Short film
Fade Gerry Short film
2015 The Daughter Peterson
Truth Marcel Matley
2016 Sandwich Larry Short film
2017 Maurice's Symphony Mr Ferk Short film
Event Zero Langston Charlesworth
2018 The School Dr. Peter Masuta
Book Week Ken Cutler
Slam Pete the Journalist
2019 Dark Place Boss Anthology film, segment: "Scout"
Henry Needs a New Home Henry Short film
Foreclosure Haywood Short film
2020 The Invisible Man Head Doctor
Moon Rock for Monday The Bobbins
Over the Edge Officer Blaze Short film
The Story of Lee Ping Slater Short film
2021 The Drover's Wife Judge Eisenmangher
The Suspect Detective Carver Short film
Collectors Sebastian Short film
2022 The Home Team Darren Short film
Lustration VR – Series 1 Short film
Lean Robert Short film
2023 Limbo Joseph
Contagion of Fear Langston Charlesworth
Pasifika Drift Darryl Short film
2024 Exposure Glen Short film
Kangaroo Island Barnaby Roberts
Electric Ugo Cerletti Short film
2025 The Trial Milton Short film

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1987 Frontier Sir George Pipps Miniseries, 3 episodes
1994 Blue Heelers Father Leary 1 episode
G.P. Ray 1 episode
1996 Little White Lies Barrett TV movie
Eldorado Rocko TV movie
1998 Getting Hurt Edgar / Viola's husband TV movie
Bugs Yerevenkian 1 episode
2000 Beastmaster Khadros 1 episode
2000–2001 Farscape Akkpr / Kreetago 5 episodes
2001 Changi Guillaume Koper Miniseries, 6 episodes
2002 Don't Blame the Koalas Video Shop Owner 1 episode
2004 Fallen Chief Supt, Edridge TV movie
2005 Grange TV movie short
2006 Who Killed Dr Bogle and Mrs Chandler? Geoffrey Chandler TV movie
2007 Varg Veum Warren Donaldson 1 episode
2008 Resistance Stephen Hope 1 episode
The Prime Minister is Missing William McMahon TV documentary film
2009 Rogue Nation Judge Advocate Richard Atkins 1 episode
3 Acts of Murder Harry Manning TV movie
2010 Rake Professor Aden Sinclair 1 episode
2011 Wild Boys Morris McLardy 1 episode
The Bedou Key Bedouin Brother Video short
2013 Offspring Tadgh Reid 2 episodes
Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries Geoffrey Spall 1 episode
2015 Gallipoli Major General Walter Braithwaite 7 episodes
Mary: The Making of a Princess Per Thornitt TV movie
2016 Janet King Justice Felton 2 episodes
Soul Mates Caveman Bob 6 episodes
Ash vs Evil Dead Professor Raymond Knowby Season 2, 2 episodes
2017 Cleverman Dr. Mitchell 3 episodes
2018 Chosen The Box Maker 2 episodes
Picnic at Hanging Rock Colonel Fitzhubert Miniseries, 4 episodes
Jade of Death Wilkins 6 episodes
2019 Random and Whacky Nigel 10 episodes
The Hunting Principal Fischer 1 episode
Les Norton Priest Miniseries, 1 episode
2020 Operation Buffalo Dr Breston 5 episodes
Deadhouse Dark David Souris 2 episodes
2020; 2022 The Secrets She Keeps Brother Bowler 5 episodes
2021 Born to Spy Mr Potts 6 episodes
2022 The Twelve Mr Isaacs 1 episode
2023 Crazy Fun Park Neville Moore 1 episode
The Messenger Bernie Miniseries, 2 episodes
The Artful Dodger Justice Micawber 2 episodes
2023–2025 Black Snow Tommy Cormack / Tommy Doyle 6 episodes
2024 Nautilus Dr Skinny 1 episode
2025 Ten Pound Poms Stanley 1 episode

Theatre

[edit]

As cast

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1989 The Rover STCSA [13]
1993 The School for Scandal Snake Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA [14]
1996 Simpatico Vinnie Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC [15]
2004 Bima & Bramati Bima (lead) Det Apne Theater, Oslo / Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh [6][16]
2005 This Little Piggy The Eagle Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC [6]
2006 The Colour of Panic Balder (lead) Sydney Opera House, Det Apne Theater, Oslo with Splinter Theatre Company [6][17]
2007 2,000 Feet Away Byron Belvoir St Theatre with B Sharp & Frogbattleship [6][18]
2010 Way to Heaven Red Cross Representative Stables Theatre, Sydney with Ride On Theatre / Griffin Theatre Company [6][19]
2012 The Mousetrap Major Metcalf Australian tour [20]

As writer

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2006 The Colour of Panic Balder (lead) Sydney Opera House, Det Apne Theater, Oslo with Splinter Theatre Company [12]
2013 Little Gods Writer / Director May Day Playwrights Festival [12]
2014 Four Places Director Tap Gallery, Sydney with Outhouse Theatre Company [21]
2014 The Dixie Swim Club Writer Heidelberg Theatre Company [22]
2015 Five Properties of Chainmale Writer / Director Stables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Company [10][11]
2021 Always a Bridesmaid Writer Pavilion Theatre, Castle Hill with Castle Hill Players [23]
2022 Till Beth Do Us Part Writer The 1812 Theatre, Ferntree Gully with Theatrematters [24]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Nicholas Hope, b. 1959". National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "AUTHORS: Nicholas Hope". triarchypress.net. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  3. ^ a b c "Film Spotlight: An Exclusive Look at Over The Edge". www.filmcentralmagazine.com. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  4. ^ "Bad Boy Bubby (1993)". AllMovie. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Interview: 'Bad Boy Bubby' Star Nicholas Hope Talks About Starring in the Controversial Aussie Cult Classic". Screen Realm. 8 May 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Nicholas Hope". www.sjmanagement.com.au. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  7. ^ Jeremy, Kay (3 April 2017). "Production underway on supernatural thriller 'The School'". Screen Daily.
  8. ^ Free, Erin (8 September 2021). "Moon Rock For Monday - Review". FilmInk. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021.
  9. ^ a b c d e Jeremy, Kay. "Nicholas Hope: Writer / Actor / Director". Western Australia Screen Culture Awards. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  10. ^ a b "A Quick Chat With Nicholas Hope". www.aussietheatre.com.au. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  11. ^ a b "Five Properties of Chainmale". www.griffintheatre.com.au. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  12. ^ a b c d "Week 3: Little Gods". www.maydayplaywrightsfestival.com. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  13. ^ "Guide to the State Theatre Company of South Australia: programs and related material collected by the National Library of Australia". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  14. ^ "The School for Scandal". Theatregold. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  15. ^ Doyle, Brendan (17 April 1996). "Fractured characters in an invisible world". Green Left, Issue 227.
  16. ^ Walker, Lynne (11 August 2004). "Bima and Bramati, Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh". www.independent.co.uk.
  17. ^ "The Colour of Panic @ Studio Theatre, Sydney Opera House". www.kazumichi.com. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  18. ^ Barry, Helen (10 November 2007). "2,000 Feet Away – Frogbattleship / B Sharp". wwwaustralianstage.com.au.
  19. ^ Simmonds, Diana (16 April 2010). "Way to Heaven". www.stagenoise.com.
  20. ^ Hicks, Robin (2 November 2012). "Bad Boy Bubby actor Nicholas Hope: distributors are scared to back brave Australian films". Mumbrella.
  21. ^ "Four Places". www.stagewhispers.com.au. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  22. ^ "Program Photos Review Newsletter Poster Memorabilia, The Dixie Swim Club written by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope, Jamie Wooten directed by Gaylene Poor". www.victoriancollections.net.au. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  23. ^ "Always a Bridesmaid". www.stagewhispers.com.au. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  24. ^ Hilbig, Allison (2 June 2022). "Till Beth Do Us Part". www.theatrematters.com.au.
[edit]