Paul O'Brien (born 14 April 1978) is a South African-Australian actor, known for his role as Jack Holden in the television soap opera Home and Away, for which he won the Logie Award for Most Popular New Male Talent in 2006.
Early life O'Brien was born in South Africa. Growing up, he lived in South Africa, Mauritius and Australia, before his family settled on the Gold Coast. He has a brother and a sister. O'Brien was a chef, before he moved to Melbourne when he was 21 to pursue a career in acting. While searching for work, he performed stand-up comedy and starred in various short films and stage productions.
Career O'Brien made his stage debut in a production of Julia Britton's Five Minute Call at The Butterfly Club in 2004. He joined the cast of soap opera Home and Away as police constable Jack Holden in 2005. O'Brien relocated to Sydney from Melbourne for the role. One of his character's most notable storylines was an on-again-off-again romance with Jodi Gordon's Martha Mackenzie. For his portrayal of Jack, O'Brien won the Logie Award for Most Popular New Male Talent in 2006, and was further nominated for Most Popular Actor in 2007 and 2008. He was named the runner-up, behind comedian Andy Lee, in the 2006 Cleo Bachelor of the Year competition.
In 2008, O'Brien took part in the third series of It Takes Two, an Australian reality show in which celebrities compete against each other by singing. O'Brien was partnered with pop singer Jade MacRae and they finished in fourth position. O'Brien left Home and Away in 2008 and his character was killed off, with his last scenes airing in early 2009. After leaving the serial, O'Brien joined the cast of Underbelly Files: Tell Them Lucifer was Here as murdered police officer Rodney Miller. Fellow Home and Away actor Todd Lasance also starred in the series, but O'Brien said he did not think their characters' paths would cross.
O'Brien began to pursue a film career, beginning with a part in John Doe: Vigilante (dir. Kelly Dolen) before securing the role of ex-assassin Ryan Teller in Message Man (dir. Corey Pearson).
In October 2013, it was announced that he had joined the cast of Neighbours in the guest role of Eric Edwards. O'Brien starred in The Subjects (dir. Robert Mond), short films Peacekeeper and Without A Shirt, before appearing in Project Eden: Vol I as Agent Williams.
In December 2017, O'Brien was cast as the lead opposite John Jarrett in the Christmas comedy Christmas Down Under, directed by Louis Mandylor. Christmas Down Under was released in 2018. In 2018, O'Brien was cast opposite Catherine Bell in Hallmark's A Summer to Remember. That same year, he starred in the Indonesia set film Message Man as a ruthless hitman who comes out of retirement to avenge a poor Indonesian family who are being terrorized by modern-day child slavers.
In March 2023, O'Brien began shooting the Australian feature film The Gorge in Queensland, alongside fellow Home and Away actor Lincoln Lewis.
Paul O'Brien Acting
O'Brien launched his acting school, Paul O'Brien Acting, to help actors become working actors. O'Brien felt that a lot of what was taught to him was outdated or redundant in the world of film and television acting.
Based in South Yarra, Victoria, O'Brien has helped many of his students get agents, get auditions and book roles. He stands by the Flow Technique as being the most effective approach to acting and auditions.
Filmography
Television appearances Year Title Role Notes2005Last Man StandingArt Director 1 episode2005–2009Home and AwayJack HoldenSeries regular2011Underbelly Files: Tell Them Lucifer was Here Senior Constable Rodney MillerSupporting role2013NeighboursEric EdwardsGuest role2015Jack and Frankl Act 1JackTV movie2015TateKenTV series2018A Summer to RememberTrevorTV movie2021Wombat & GooseThe Postie1 episode
Film appearances +YearTitleRoleNotes2023The GorgeDavidShort2022The Spy Who Never DiesBrad2021Christmas Down UnderAaron Parker2018Message ManRyan TellerLead2017Project Eden: Vol IAgent WilliamsSupporting2016Anon. Trailer Music IIGrieving ArtistShortYou Never KnowDavidShortWithout a ShirtThe PostieShort2015The SubjectsJohnLead2014PeacekeeperPeacekeeperShort2014John Doe: Vigilante Officer Jack CallahanSupporting2012Pacific CoveCoreyShort2011FacesMarkusShortThe Family MillsNathan MillsShortDeepRockyShort2009Sweet MarshallJosephThe Damned UnitedPaul Thompson2008The Life o'SimonGerald2006Love is a SquareMarkShortSick to the VitalsGeorgeShort2005ParallelsBlue Suit
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result 2006 48th Logie Awards Most Popular New Male Talent Home and Away 2007 49th Logie Awards Most Popular Actor 2008 50th Logie Awards Most Popular Actor 2016 3rd Connect Film Festival Jury Prize for Best Ensemble Acting Award Peacekeeper
References
External links