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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

The Gallery’s Acknowledgement of Country, and information on culturally sensitive and restricted content and the use of historic language in the collection can be found here.

Guy Pearce

2000 (printed 2004)
Karin Catt

type C photograph on paper (sheet: 50.6 cm x 50.6 cm, image: 48.4 cm x 48.0 cm)

Guy Pearce (b. 1967), actor, was born in Ely, England, and arrived in Australia at the age of 3. After a five-year stint in Neighbours (1986-1990), and a year-long tour as Danny in a production of Grease, Pearce landed a principal role in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994) as flamboyant Felicia Jollygoodfellow. The film's international success brought him to the attention of Hollywood, and led to his being cast with Russell Crowe in L.A. Confidential (1997). As the driven Ed Exley, Pearce was a revelation. His subsequent films have included the cannibalism romp Ravenous (1999), Rules of Engagement (2000), the acclaimed Memento (2001), The Time Machine (2002), in which he reprised the role originally played by fellow Australian Rod Taylor, and The Count of Monte Cristo (2002). He has also made Till Human Voices Wake Us (2002), The Hard Word (2002) in Australia as well as Nick Cave and John Hillcoat’s The Proposition (2005). More recently he has appeared in TV miniseries Mildred Pierce (2011) for which he won an Emmy and was nominated for a Golden Globe, as well as Jack Irish (2016). He has appeared in Hurt Locker (2008), the King’s Speech (2010), Animal Kingdom (201), Prometheus (2012), and Flammable Children (2017) with Kylie Minogue.

Purchased 2005
© Karin Catt

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. Works of art from the collection are reproduced as per the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The use of images of works from the collection may be restricted under the Act. Requests for a reproduction of a work of art can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

Artist and subject

Karin Catt

Guy Pearce (age 33 in 2000)

Subject professions

Performing arts

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency