Brendan Cowell

{{Infobox person

| name = Brendan Cowell

| image = Brendan Cowell on February 10, 2013.jpg

| caption = Brendan Cowell in February 2013

| birth_date =

| birth_place = Sydney, Australia

| occupation = Actor, screenwriter, playwright

| years_active = 1986–present

| partner =

}}

Brendan Cowell is an Australian actor and writer. He is known for his lead role in 2024 television series Plum that he created, based on his 2021 novel of the same name.

Early life and education

Brendan Cowell was born in Sydney and grew up in the beachside suburb of Cronulla. He credits his mother and high school drama teacher with encouraging him to explore his creative side.

He attended Charles Sturt University in Bathurst to complete a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre/Media.{{cite web |url=https://alumni.csu.edu.au/about-csu-alumni/alumni-spotlight/115-brendan-cowell-actor-writer-director-producer |title=Brendan Cowell – Actor-writer-director-producer |publisher=Alumni.csu.edu.au |access-date=14 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219065731/https://alumni.csu.edu.au/about-csu-alumni/alumni-spotlight/115-brendan-cowell-actor-writer-director-producer |archive-date=19 February 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}

Career

=Stage=

Cowell won the Patrick White Playwrights' Award for his third play, Bed{{cite web |url=http://www.sydneytheatre.com.au/about/information-for-artists/patrick-white-playwrights%E2%80%99-award-and-fellowship/patrick-white-playwrights%E2%80%99-award.aspx |title=Sydney Theatre Company – Patrick White Playwrights' Award |publisher=Sydneytheatre.com.au |access-date=14 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130907023621/http://www.sydneytheatre.com.au/about/information-for-artists/patrick-white-playwrights%E2%80%99-award-and-fellowship/patrick-white-playwrights%E2%80%99-award.aspx |archive-date=7 September 2013 |url-status=dead}} along with a collection of other awards. His play Ruben Guthrie showed at the Belvoir St Theatre in 2009 to sell-out houses.{{cite web|url=http://belvoir.com.au/productions/ruben-guthrie/ |title=Ruben Guthrie, Productions | Belvoir St Theatre |publisher=Belvoir.com.au |date=5 July 2009 |access-date=14 July 2013}} It had a new production at La Boite Theatre in 2011, starring Gyton Grantley and directed by David Berthold.{{cite web|url=http://aussietheatre.com.au/features/all-things-ruben-guthrie-an-interview-with-david-berthold-la-boite |title=All things Ruben Guthrie: An Interview with David Berthold (La Boite) |publisher=Aussietheatre.com.au |date=28 September 2011 |access-date=14 July 2013}}

He won some acclaim for his portrayal of the title role in Bell Shakespeare's 2008 Production of Hamlet{{cite web|url=http://www.australianstage.com.au/reviews/sydney/hamlet--bell-shakespeare-1575.html |title=Hamlet | Bell Shakespeare |publisher=Australianstage.com.au |date=19 June 2008 |access-date=14 July 2013}} and acted in Sydney Theatre Company's production of True West, directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman, in 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.australianstage.com.au/201011084018/reviews/sydney/true-west-%7C-sydney-theatre-company.html|title=True West | Sydney Theatre Company |publisher=Australianstage.com.au |date=8 November 2010 |access-date=14 July 2013}}

The Sublime (Melbourne Theatre Company) was shortlisted for the Nick Enright Prize for Playwriting in the New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards 2015.{{Cite journal|date=Summer 2015|title=New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards|url=https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/sl_magazine_summer_201516_web.pdf|journal=SL Magazine|volume=8|issue=4|pages=36}}

His play Happy New was performed in London in 2013, starring Joel Samuels, Lisa Dillon and William Troughton. It had previously premiered in Australia.{{cite news |last1=Bleakley |first1=Paul |title=Happy New {{!}} Chickens, childhood and Brendan Cowell |url=https://www.australiantimes.co.uk/lifestyle/brendan-cowell-interview-on-happy-new-trafalgar-studio/?cmpredirect |access-date=28 March 2021 |work=Australian Times News |date=28 May 2013 |language=en-AU}}

In 2017 he starred as Galileo Galilei in the Young Vic's production of Bertholt Brecht's Life of Galileo.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youngvic.org/whats-on/life-of-galileo|title=Life of Galileo|date=6 May 2017}}

=Television=

Cowell played the enigmatic Tom on Australian cable TV's Love My Way, for which he also wrote several episodes, and played Todd for the first two seasons on Life Support on SBS TV, for which he also wrote sketches.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}}

In 2017 Cowell joined the cast of the HBO series Game of Thrones in season 7 as Harrag, an Ironborn sea captain allied to Theon Greyjoy.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}}

In 2024 it was announced that Cowell had begun filming for ABC drama Plum based on his novel of the same name.{{cite web |last=Knox |first=David |date=17 January 2024 |title=Production underway on new ABC drama Plum | TV Tonight |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2024/01/production-underway-on-new-abc-drama-plum.html |website=tvtonight.com.au}}{{cite web |last=Slatter |first=Sean |date=16 January 2024 |title=ABC to serve up 'Plum' with Brendan Cowell, Asher Keddie leading the cast |url=https://if.com.au/abc-to-serve-up-plum-with-brendan-cowell-asher-keddie-leading-the-cast/ |website=if.com.au}} The series aired on 20 October 2024.

On 27 March 2025, Cowell was named in the cast of Apple TV+ series The Dispatcher.{{Cite web |last=Knox |first=David |date=2025-03-27 |title=Apple TV+ announces cast for Aussie drama, The Dispatcher. {{!}} TV Tonight |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2025/03/apple-tv-announces-cast-for-aussie-drama-the-dispatcher.html |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=tvtonight.com.au |language=en-AU}}

=Film=

Cowell's acting work in film include roles in the 2007 crime drama Noise, the World War 1 war film Beneath Hill 60, the romantic comedy I Love You Too.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}} and a notable role in Avatar: The Way of Water as Captain Mick Scoresby.

=Other writing=

In 2010 Cowell published his first novel, How it Feels.{{cite web|author=Theo Chapman |url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/finding-the-words-in-a-mans-world-20110111-19m9b.html |title=How It Feels | Book Review | Brendan Cowell's First Novel |date=11 January 2011 |publisher=Smh.com.au |access-date=14 July 2013}}

Personal life

Cowell dated Rose Byrne for six years until they parted ways amicably in early 2010.{{cite web |title=Rose Byrne and Brendan Cowell split |first=Luke |last=Dennehy |work=Sunday Herald Sun |date=7 February 2010 |url=https://amp.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/rose-byrne-and-brendan-cowell-split/news-story/a6e74433387d6d954f85d774b5cf63c6 |access-date=6 December 2021 |archive-date=6 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206012436/https://amp.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/rose-byrne-and-brendan-cowell-split/news-story/a6e74433387d6d954f85d774b5cf63c6 |url-status=dead}}

Performances and works

=Film=

class="wikitable sortable"

|+Key

| style="background:#ffc;"| {{dagger|alt=Films that have not yet been released}}

| Denotes productions that have not yet been released

class="wikitable sortable"

! Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable"|Notes

1986

| The Siege of Barton's Bathroom

| Dominic Barton

| Short film{{Cite web |last=Leerentveld |first=Erwin |date=2023-03-29 |title=Film : The Cast: Bartons on the Web |url=https://www.bartonsontheweb.nl/short/cast/ |website=Bartons on the Web}}{{Cite web |last=Leerentveld |first=Erwin |date=2023-03-29 |title=Jocelyn Moorhouse Interview |url=https://www.bartonsontheweb.nl/interviews/jocelyn/ |website=Bartons on the Web}}

1999

| Kick

| Macca

rowspan="2"|2000

| Bored Olives

| Robert

The Monkey's Mask

| Hayden

2001

| To End All Wars

| Wallace Hamilton

2004

| Floodhouse

| Herringbone John

2005

| Deck Dogz

| Kurt

2006

| Suburban Mayhem

| Interviewer

| Voice role

2007

| Noise

| Graham McGahan

rowspan="2"|2008

| Three Blind Mice

| Glenn Carter

Ten Empty

| Shane Hackett

rowspan="2"|2010

| Beneath Hill 60

| Oliver Woodward

I Love You Too

| Jim

2012

| Save Your Legs!

| Rick

2013

| The Darkside

rowspan="2"|2015

| Last Cab to Darwin

| Publican

Observance

| Employer

2016

| Broke

| Kirk

rowspan="2"|2017

| National Theatre Live: Yerma

| John

The Current War

| Confederate Soldier

2022

| Avatar: The Way of Water

| rowspan="2"|Captain Mick Scoresby

2024

| Avatar: Fire and Ash

=Television=

class="wikitable sortable"

! Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable"|Notes

1999

| Monster!

| Nate

| TV film

2001

| Water Rats

| Jonathan Freeman

| Episode: "Family Matters"

2001–2002

| Life Support

| Todd

| Series regular

rowspan="2"|2002

| Young Lions

| Jason Doone

| 2 episodes

White Collar Blue

| Daniel Hudson

| 1 episode

2003

| Fat Cow Motel

| Jack Green

| Mini-series

2004

| Salem's Lot

| Dud Rogers

| Mini-series

2004–2007

| Love My Way

| Tom Jackson

| Series regular

2008

| Review with Myles Barlow

| As himself

| Season 1 Episode 3

2010

| Rush

| Blake Fincher

| Episode: "Cooked"

rowspan="2"|2011

| The Slap

| Craig

| Episode: "Richie"

Underbelly Files: The Man Who Got Away

| Benny O'Connell

| TV film

2012

| Howzat! Kerry Packer's War

| Rodney Marsh

| Mini-series

rowspan="2"|2013

| The Borgias

| Mattai the Hebrew

| 5 episodes

The Outlaw Michael Howe

| British Soldier

| TV film

rowspan="2"|2014

| Wastelander Panda

| Isaac

| 6 episodes, voice role

Soul Mates

| Harry Cunston

| Episode: "Self Destruction"

2014–2016

| Black Comedy

| Various roles

| 4 episodes

rowspan="2"|2016

| Brock

| Allan Moffat

| Mini-series

Comedy Showroom: The Letdown

| Harry

| TV film

2017

| Game of Thrones

| Harrag

| 3 episodes

2017–2019

| The Letdown

| Harry

| 3 episodes

2018

| Press

| Peter Langley

| Series regular

2020

| The End

| Christopher Brennan

| 4 episodes

2022

| The Twelve

| Garry Thorne

| 10 episodes

2023

| The Castaways

| Mike Brasse

| 5 episodes

rowspan="2"|2024

| Plum

| Peter 'The Plum' Lum

| 6 episodes

Dune: Prophecy

| Duke Ferdinand Richese

| 2 episodes

TBA

|The Dispatcher

|TBA

=Theatre=

class="wikitable"

style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"

! Year

! Play

! Role

! Venue

! Notes

rowspan="2"|2000

| The Recruit

| Jimmy

| Wharf 1 Theatre, Sydney, New South Wales

| with Sydney Theatre Company

Men

| Guy

| Old Fitzroy Theatre, Woolloomooloo, Sydney, New South Wales

2001

| Happy New

| Lyle

| Old Fitzroy Theatre, Woolloomooloo, Sydney, New South Wales

2003

| The Shape of Things

| Adam Sorenson

| Wharf 1 Theatre, Sydney, New South Wales

| with Sydney Theatre Company

2004

| Far Away

| Todd

| Wharf 1 Theatre, Sydney, New South Wales

| with Sydney Theatre Company

2006

| Dissident, Goes Without Saying

| Phillipe

| Wharf 2Loud Theatre, Sydney, New South Wales

| with Sydney Theatre Company

2008

| Hamlet

| Prince Hamlet

| Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House, Sydney, New South Wales

| with Bell Shakespeare

2010

| True West

| Austin

| Wharf 1 Theatre, Sydney, New South Wales

| with Sydney Theatre Company

2011

| The Dark Room

| Stephen

| Downstairs Theatre, Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney, New South Wales

| with Company B

rowspan="2"|2013

| Miss Julie

| Jean

| Upstairs Theatre, Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney, New South Wales

| with Belvoir Sydney

The Wild Duck

| Hjalmar Ekdal

| Vienna Festival & Holland Festival

| with Belvoir Sydney

rowspan="2"|2014

| Once in Royal David's City

| Will Drummond

| Upstairs Theatre, Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney, New South Wales

| with Belvoir Sydney

The Wild Duck

| Hjalmar Ekdal

| Barbican Centre, London & UK Tour

| with Belvoir Sydney

2016

| Yerma

| Juan

| Young Vic, London

2017

| Life of Galileo

| Galileo Galilei

| Young Vic, London

rowspan="2"|2018

| Dance Nation

| Dance Teacher Pat

| Almeida Theatre, London

Yerma

| Juan

| Park Avenue Armory, New York City

=Writing=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Format ! class="unsortable"\|Notes
2000 \| Men \| Play \|
rowspan="2"\|2001 \| Bed \| Play \| Won the Patrick White Playwrights Award and Fellowship in 2001{{Cite web \|title=Past Winners \|url=https://www.sydneytheatre.com.au/about/information-for-artists/patrick-white-playwrights-award-and-fellowship/past-winners \|access-date=2024-11-22 \|website=Sydney Theatre \|language=en}}
Happy New \| Play \|
2001–2002 \| Life Support \| TV series. Satire. Comedy \| Writer (with others) in 4 episodes
rowspan="8"\|2002 \| Sweet Dreams \| Short film \| Co-written with Anthony Hayes
Running Down These Dreams \| Short film. Drama \|
Free \| Short film. Drama \|
Wasted on the Young \| Short film. Comedy \|
I Love U \| Short film. Drama \|
Baggage Claim \| Short film. Drama \|
The Doppelgangers \| Short film. Sci-Fi \|
Chrono-logic \| Short film. Drama \|
2003 \| Rabbit \| Play \| Won the 2003 Griffin award.{{Cite web \|title=Griffin Award \|url=https://griffintheatre.com.au/griffin-award/ \|access-date=2024-11-22 \|website=Griffin Theatre Company \|language=en-AU}}
2004 \| Morph \| Play \|
2004-2007 \| Love My Way \| TV series \| 8 episodes{{cite web\|url=http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/find-a-film/detail.aspx?tid=21852& \|title=Screen Australia \|publisher=Screen Australia \|date=1 July 2008 \|access-date=14 July 2013}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/find-a-film/detail.aspx?tid=21329& \|title=Screen Australia \|publisher=Screen Australia \|date=1 July 2008 \|access-date=14 July 2013}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/find-a-film/detail.aspx?tid=23498& \|title=Screen Australia \|publisher=Screen Australia \|date=1 July 2008 \|access-date=14 July 2013}}
2005 \| Europe \| Short film. Romance \|{{cite web\|url=http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/find-a-film/detail.aspx?tid=22713& \|title=Screen Australia \|publisher=Screen Australia \|date=1 July 2008 \|access-date=14 July 2013}}
2007 \| Ten Empty \| Film. Drama \|
2009 \| Ruben Guthrie \| Play {{ISBN\|9780868198590}} \| Cowell adapted this as a film script for the 2015 feature film with the same title
2010 \| How It Feels \| Debut novel {{ISBN\|9781405039291}} \|{{cite web \|url=http://www.panmacmillan.com.au/display_title.asp?ISBN=9781405039291&Author=Cowell,%20Brendan \|title=Pan Macmillan Australia: About the Book \|publisher=Panmacmillan.com.au \|access-date=14 July 2013 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510021617/http://www.panmacmillan.com.au/display_title.asp?ISBN=9781405039291&Author=Cowell,%20Brendan \|archive-date=10 May 2013 \|url-status=dead}}
2011 \| The Slap \| TV series based on Christos Tsiolkas' novel \| 2 episodes: #1.3 Harry, #1.8 Richie
2012 \| Save Your Legs! \| Feature film. Comedy \|{{cite web \|title=Screen Australia \|url=https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/save-your-legs!-2013/30811?stxt=save%20your%20legs \|publisher=Screen Australia \|access-date=8 April 2020}}
2013 \| The Outlaw Michael Howe \| TV film. Historical drama. Western \|
2014 \| The Sublime \| Play \|
2015 \| Ruben Guthrie \| Feature film. Dark comedy, drama, romance \|
2021 \| Plum \| Second novel {{ISBN\|9781460760505}} \| Audiobook read by Cowell ({{ISBN\|9781460789377}}). Adapted as a TV series, released in 2024.
2024 \| Plum \| TV series \| Writer / Exec producer; 6 episodes

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Format

! class="unsortable"|Notes

2000

| Men

| Play

rowspan="2"|2001

| Bed

| Play

| Won the Patrick White Playwrights Award and Fellowship in 2001{{Cite web |title=Past Winners |url=https://www.sydneytheatre.com.au/about/information-for-artists/patrick-white-playwrights-award-and-fellowship/past-winners |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=Sydney Theatre |language=en}}

Happy New

| Play

2001–2002

| Life Support

| TV series. Satire. Comedy

| Writer (with others) in 4 episodes

rowspan="8"|2002

| Sweet Dreams

| Short film

| Co-written with Anthony Hayes

Running Down These Dreams

| Short film. Drama

Free

| Short film. Drama

Wasted on the Young

| Short film. Comedy

I Love U

| Short film. Drama

Baggage Claim

| Short film. Drama

The Doppelgangers

| Short film. Sci-Fi

Chrono-logic

| Short film. Drama

2003

| Rabbit

| Play

| Won the 2003 Griffin award.{{Cite web |title=Griffin Award |url=https://griffintheatre.com.au/griffin-award/ |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=Griffin Theatre Company |language=en-AU}}

2004

| Morph

| Play

2004-2007

| Love My Way

| TV series

| 8 episodes{{cite web|url=http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/find-a-film/detail.aspx?tid=21852& |title=Screen Australia |publisher=Screen Australia |date=1 July 2008 |access-date=14 July 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/find-a-film/detail.aspx?tid=21329& |title=Screen Australia |publisher=Screen Australia |date=1 July 2008 |access-date=14 July 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/find-a-film/detail.aspx?tid=23498& |title=Screen Australia |publisher=Screen Australia |date=1 July 2008 |access-date=14 July 2013}}

2005

| Europe

| Short film. Romance

|{{cite web|url=http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/find-a-film/detail.aspx?tid=22713& |title=Screen Australia |publisher=Screen Australia |date=1 July 2008 |access-date=14 July 2013}}

2007

| Ten Empty

| Film. Drama

2009

| Ruben Guthrie

| Play {{ISBN|9780868198590}}

| Cowell adapted this as a film script for the 2015 feature film with the same title

2010

| How It Feels

| Debut novel {{ISBN|9781405039291}}

|{{cite web |url=http://www.panmacmillan.com.au/display_title.asp?ISBN=9781405039291&Author=Cowell,%20Brendan |title=Pan Macmillan Australia: About the Book |publisher=Panmacmillan.com.au |access-date=14 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510021617/http://www.panmacmillan.com.au/display_title.asp?ISBN=9781405039291&Author=Cowell,%20Brendan |archive-date=10 May 2013 |url-status=dead}}

2011

| The Slap

| TV series based on Christos Tsiolkas' novel

| 2 episodes: #1.3 Harry, #1.8 Richie

2012

| Save Your Legs!

| Feature film. Comedy

|{{cite web |title=Screen Australia |url=https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/save-your-legs!-2013/30811?stxt=save%20your%20legs |publisher=Screen Australia |access-date=8 April 2020}}

2013

| The Outlaw Michael Howe

| TV film. Historical drama. Western

2014

| The Sublime

| Play

2015

| Ruben Guthrie

| Feature film. Dark comedy, drama, romance

2021

| Plum

| Second novel {{ISBN|9781460760505}}

| Audiobook read by Cowell ({{ISBN|9781460789377}}).
Adapted as a TV series, released in 2024.

2024

| Plum

| TV series

| Writer / Exec producer; 6 episodes

=Directing=

class="wikitable"
style="background-color:#CCCCCC" \| Year ! style="background-color:#CCCCCC" \| Title
2005 \| Europe
2013 \| The Outlaw Michael Howe
2015 \| Ruben Guthrie

class="wikitable"

style="background-color:#CCCCCC" | Year

! style="background-color:#CCCCCC" | Title

2005

| Europe

2013

| The Outlaw Michael Howe

2015

| Ruben Guthrie

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable sortable" width="95%"
Year ! Award ! Category ! Work ! Result
2005 \| Logie Awards \| Silver Logie for Most Outstanding Actor \| Love My Way \| {{nom}}
2006 \| Logie Awards \| Silver Logie for Most Outstanding Actor \| Love My Way \| {{nom}}
rowspan="4"\|2007 \| AFI Awards \| Best Lead Actor \| Noise \| {{nom}}
AWGIE Awards \| Television - Series \| Love My Way \| {{nom}}
Inside Film Awards \| Best Actor \| Noise \| {{nom}}
Logie Awards \| Silver Logie for Most Popular Actor \| Love My Way \| {{nom}}
rowspan="2"\|2008 \| ASTRA Awards \| Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor \| Love My Way \| {{nom}}
Film Critics Circle of Australia \| Best Actor \| Noise \| {{win}}
2010 \| AFI Awards \| Best Lead Actor \| Beneath Hill 60 \| {{nom}}
rowspan="2"\|2011 \| Film Critics Circle of Australia \| Best Actor \| Beneath Hill 60 \| {{nom}}
Sydney Theatre Awards \| Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production \| The Dark Room \| {{nom}}
rowspan="2"\|2012 \| AACTA Awards \| Best Screenplay in Television \| The Slap \| {{win}}
AWGIE Awards \| Television Mini-Series - Adaptation (with Emily Ballou, Alice Bell, Kris Mrksa & Cate Shortland) \| The Slap \| {{win}}
rowspan="3"\|2015 \| AACTA Awards \| Best Adapted Screenplay \| Ruben Guthrie \| {{nom}}
AWGIE Awards \| Feature Film - Adaptation \| Ruben Guthrie \| {{win}}
ZOOM Awards \| Best Director \| The Outlaw Michael Howe \| {{win}}

class="wikitable sortable" width="95%"

Year

! Award

! Category

! Work

! Result

2005

| Logie Awards

| Silver Logie for Most Outstanding Actor

| Love My Way

| {{nom}}

2006