Martin Henderson
Martin Henderson
Martin Hendersonis a New Zealand actor, known to American audiences for his starring role in the ABC medical drama Off the Map, for starring in the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy as Dr. Nathan Riggs, and for his performance as Noah Clay in the critically lauded 2002 horror film The Ring, while remaining known in his home country for his teenage role as Stuart Neilson in the soap opera Shortland Street...
NationalityNew Zealander
ProfessionSoap Opera Actor
Date of Birth8 October 1974
CityAuckland, New Zealand
What's exciting about Sundance is that they're making a name for themselves in this boutique television niche world, and there's energy behind that.
It's very rare you get a director who's that invested in the actors. So yeah, when 'Little Fish' came around, there wasn't much negotiation!
It's harder in the States. I'm much more inclined to get offered things that are a lot straighter and heavier and dramatic. And they go by looks, too. If you look like a leading man, then that's what they will consider you for.
There is nothing I feel that connected or passionate about that would take me away from acting.
Being an actor it's our job to tell stories. But, to me, the best stories are the ones of human condition,
Boy, we partied, man. They were crazy days, man. Just partying all the time. We'd go surfing - Heath taught me to surf - and we'd get up at 6am and take off to the northern beaches and surf in the sunrise, and then cruise around, and girls and beer and parties.
We spent a few days up Ben Nevis, which is the biggest mountain in the U.K., and there was one day when we had to make a decision whether we were going to go to the summit or not. It was already getting dark, but we made the call to go and made the summit, but as soon as we got there, this blizzard just hit.
As soon as I got off the plane in L.A., I heard they'd cast the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy and that it was all being shot in New Zealand! That was pretty ironic.
It's a tough accent. It's difficult for actors who are not Kiwis.
I've got to say, I like being the everyman.
I'm not in a real rush to be a big star.
I'm never entirely happy. That's just part of my personality, and I just have to accept that.
I walked two hours to an audition once and was so sweaty that someone said, 'Oh, you guys from New Zealand don't shower.'
I try not to invest time in what other people think of me.