Bruce Hopkins
Originally from Stewart Island, New Zealand, Bruce grew up being actively involved in school, university, crayfishing, sport including rugby, waterpolo (NZ schoolboys representative), surf lifesaving(bronze medal winner at national level & member of the helicopter rescue squad), and basketball.
Beginning his performance career with 8 yrs as a professional dancer in NZ and Australia, Bruce spent the last 22yrs working in live theater/events, film, television, radio, and emceeing corporate events around the world.
In 1999 Bruce was asked to play the featured role of “Gamling”, in director Peter Jacksons ” Lord Of The Rings “ trilogy of films, working along side acting greats, Sir Ian McKellan, Viggo Mortensen, Bernard Hill and Orlando Bloom. Bruce considers the experience of working on such a vast and challenging project, one of the major highlights of his film acting career. He has also played the role of MacBeth on stage.
Bruce who has 3 adult children and a grandson, volunteers his time to a variety of causes and also keeps himself busy spending time with family, friends, music and surfing.
Q. What kind of activities are you engaged in outside of your acting career?
BRUCE. I am so in love with my 15 month old grandson, its crazy! I try to spend time with my adult kids as much as I can, but am learning I have to let them get on with their own lives!!! I love surfing, having only taken it up in my early forties. I also enjoy listening to a huge variety of music, in particular hearing the constant new sounds coming out from all corners of the world. Enjoy watching docos, and I also enjoy the daily challenge of counting my blessings!
Q. When did you first hear about Barrier? and what was your first impression of the project?
BRUCE. I first heard from Sheldon about barrier in 2007. I really enjoyed my first read of the project as not only did it have a good feel to the characters, but it also has a great setting for a television series, a great merger of human relationships set in a sci fi realm. I found it exciting.
Q. What first attracted you to the role of Dante in Barrier?
BRUCE. It was not an overstated one dimensional character. This kind of action drama can often have pretty shallow characters. I like that Dante is complex in terms of his personal inner turmoils, but he is also a rebel and very aware of how to play the game!
Q. You have worked on science fiction and fantasy before, what is your favorite part of working in this genre?
BRUCE. I like the fact that the design and visuals ( including make up and wardrobe ) can often go quite out there in sci fi. As an actor I find, when I look as my character once I am in the clothes and make up, can lead to you having alot of fun, getting to play and explore how that person might operate.
Q. What are your personal and professional goals for the future?
Bruce. Personal, to keep growing as a human being, father, grandfather etc, I really enjoy the concept of enlightenment, that doesn’t mean I will ever be it, but I enjoy pursuing some form of understanding of it! I want to get to a point whereby I truely do live life for the ongoing moment that it is.
Professionally, again I want to keep growing. I enjoy the fact that I have had a huge variety of roles under my belt, so I’m not type cast. If I can work on a few projects each year, and know that I am contributing as I grow, that would be cool.
If you would like to ask Bruce a question, please email Bruce here, and he’ll try to answer them in the behind the scenes documentary, Q&A segment, thank you.
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Filmography.
FILMS:
Sleeper (2009) …. Raynor
Dean Spanley (2008) …. Farmer
The Ten Commandments (2007) (voice)
Black Noise (2006) …. The Shaman
1nite (2004) …. Bruce
Ike: Countdown to D-Day (2004) (TV) …. U.S. colonel at Savoy
Point Annihilation (2004) …. Claw
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) …. Gamling
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) …. Gamling
Jubilee (2000) …. Larry
Savage Honeymoon (2000) …. Rhys
I’ll Make You Happy (1999) …. Jock
SHORT FILMS:
Over the years, I have appeared in numerous short films. These offer a chance to practice my craft and are at times an opportunity to support a director or writer who is trying to create their own mark in the industry. There happen to be some great short film stories around. Some of the short films I have appeared in are:
WARM GUN THE BEACH
THE BAR HENCHMAN
SACRIFICE DANCING BAREFOOT
SECRETS FLYING
MAX GAIN RUSHES
LINDA’S BODY NINE ACROSS
THE FIND POINT ANNIHILATION
Over the last few years I have tried to make time to act in 1 or 2 short films a year made by students at the various films schools in Auckland, as I believe in supporting the emerging talent while continuing to practice my craft.
TELEVISION:
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys:
“Let the Games Begin” …as a Lieutenant
“Regrets, I’ve Had a Few” …as Nehemiah
“Cast a Giant Shadow” …as Pylon
“Love on the Rocks” …as Triton
“My Best Girl’s Wedding” …as Triton
Xena, Warrior Princess:
“Lyre Lyre Hearts on Fire” …as a Bartender
“Daughter of Pomira” …as Rahl
“Dreamweaver” …as Termin
“Ten Little Warlords” …as Tegason
Young Hercules:
“Amazon Grace” …as Theseus
Cleopatra 2525:
“Last Stand” …as Jake Logan
Lawless:
“Dead Evidence”
“Beyond Justice”
… as Andy, playing opposite Kevin Smith and Angela Dotchin… Directors Geoff Cawthorn, Charlie Haskell and Chris Martin Jones.
Murder in Greenwich … as Lancaster, playing opposite Chris Malone in 2 scenes ..Director Tom McLaughlin
Power Rangers Ninja Storm …voice of Choobo
Ike: Countdown to D-Day …as U.S. colonel at Savoy
EPISODES OF:
JACK OF ALL TRADES HIGH TIDE
HEARTS OF MEN THE CHOSEN
MERCY PEAK SPIN DOCTOR
BEING EVE 2050, WHAT IF?
SHORTLAND STREET LETTER TO BLANCHE
FUNNY BUSINESS CANDID CAMERA
THE NIGHTMARE MAN GREENSTONE
BLOOD CRIME THE LIFE AND TIMES OF TE TUTU
THEATRE:
The Lover and the Beloved
Song of the Civilised Thief
Premier season of Ladies Night
Ladies Night 2 Raging On
Sound of Music
West Side Story
Peter Pan
Romeo & Juliet (Tybalt)
Breaking The Code
Streetcar Named Desire
Lovelock’s Dream Run
Fool For Love
The Three Musketeers
East
West
Restless Ecstasy
Via Satellite
MacBeth (MacBeth)
Christmas Carol
Jack and the Beanstalk
DANCE:
8 years full-time professional dancer from 1978 to 1986 with:
Limbs Dance Co. – Auckland, NZ
Impulse Dance Theatre – Wellington, NZ
Human Veins Dance Co – Canberra, Australia
Sydney Festival Dance Co – Sydney Australia
In 1998 Bruce performed in two seasons with Black Grace Dance Co, one as a dancer and one as an actor.
If you would like more information about Mr Hopkins, please visit www.bruce-hopkins.com, or IMDB
