Eric Bana
Born: 9 August 1968
Where: Melbourne, Australia
Bana become a truly international famous face (and torso) as scientist Bruce Banner AKA Hulk in the film version of Marvel Comics story.
Subsequent roles have seen him impress in the blockbuster Troy and as a Mossad assassin in Steven Spielberg's Munich.
The son of a Croatian father and German mother, Eric began his career performing comedy at a local bar in Melbourne in 1991.
Despite his sharp wit, within two years he'd only progressed to appearances on television, save for a supporting role in The Castle in 1997.
He followed with a featured part in the Australian drama series Something in the Air in 2000 before receiving his breakthrough as an Ozzy hero in Chopper.
Few could dispute the power and skill of Bana's central performance as Mark Read, a cult celebrity in Australia thanks to a best-selling memoir.
He earned near unanimous praise for his compelling work and picked up several accolades, including the Best Actor citation from the Australian Film Institute.
Ridley Scott then used him to portray an American sergeant in the contemporary war drama Black Hawk Down in 2001 and his international career was launched.
Bana finally lived up to his billing as the next big thing from Down Under when he was cast in the coveted role of Dr Bruce Banner in the Ang Lee-directed adaptation of The Hulk.
In 2004, he played Hector in Wolfgang Petersen's Troy with Brad Pitt and Orlando Bloom.
Recent work includes the doubt-ridden leader of Mossad agents in Steven Spielberg's political thriller Munich.
