June 2003 By Philip Berk
2003 has been a banner year for movies, for Universal (besides Hulk they have five blockbusters this summer) and now for Eric Bana, the unknown actor from Australia who should become a household word when Ang Lee’s visionary Hulk opens in theaters all over the world.
So who is this guy and why was he chosen to play the lead in this eagerly awaited blockbuster?
When he arrives at Universal Studios where the junket for Hulk is being held, he’s unrecognizable.
No longer the smooth skinned Bruce Banner whose conflicted mind explodes when he becomes the Hulk, he walks into the press conference fully bearded, in character for the role of Hector which he plays in Wolfgang Peterson’s Troy, currently shooting in Malta.
Hugely empathic as Bruce Banner, Eric could well become the next big thing.
Warner Bros. obviously agree, and he’ll share billing with Brad Pitt in what should be next summer’s big blockbuster.
The name Bana, what’s its origin, I ask him.
“It’s Croatian. My father was born in Croatia, and my mother was born in Germany. They were both post World War II immigrants to Melbourne, Australia. They met in Melbourne, were married there, and luckily one day they went to bed together and had my brother and myself. My brother is three years older, and we all still live in Melbourne.”
He started out as a stand-up comic. What drew him that that specialized performance art?
“When I was a small child I used to do a lot of mimicry, foreign accents and things like that. At the time I didn’t know what use it was going to be. It was just something I did for fun with family and friends. Years later when I started seeing movies I thought maybe there might be a use for that type of skill.Then when it became clear that I had no interest in tertiary education, a friend suggested I try stand up comedy. It didn’t seem like an obvious choice because I am not much of a joker. I’ve never felt the compulsion to jump up on stage and carry on like an idiot; so I came up with a comedy routine that was very story-telling based. I had a lot of characters in it, and from that I was discovered by some producers of a sketch comedy program. I did that for six years until I started to get bored and felt I really wanted to try drama.”
Of course that led to him being cast in Chopper which won him all sorts of acclaim in Australia but didn’t travel well overseas.
The film was widely admired in the U.S. but nobody saw it.
Except studio heads and (producer) Jerry Bruckheimer who immediately cast him in a small role in Black Hawk Down.
But it was Ang Lee who made everyone take notice.
The lead in Hulk could have gone to a handful of Hollywood hunks.
But Lee was looking for something else, and he insisted on Eric playing the role despite mild resistance from the studio.
What was his first reaction when Ang Lee approached him?
“I was very excited to be given such a wonderful opportunity. I felt honored that Ang wanted me. I thought it really interesting that the studio would allow him to cast someone who wasn’t a star outside of his own country. Knowing that he wanted to cast an actor and that he was not looking for a big star gave me a lot of confidence.”
Is he prepared for international stardom and how will it change his life?
“Professionally it has quite an impact. It helps provide you with more opportunities, more great roles, more great characters. But personally, it won’t change anything. I still live in Australia. The people there have known me for so long they’re probably sick of the sight of me. I lead a pretty normal life back home. Internationally it’s a bit of a bummer because I won’t be invisible for too much longer, but that’s the price you pay for a beautiful situation.”
Is he enjoying his affluence and has he bought an expensive car?
“Motor sport has always been an indulgence of mine even when I couldn’t afford it. So yeah obviously I’m able to do that more comfortably now. On a day to day level, however, it remains the same. It takes quite a while before you get up to speed with it. My wife and I purchased a second house in Sydney recently because we spend a lot of time there. That’s where Rebecca’s from. Other than that we haven’t indulged. I don’t need a lot of money to be happy. Family, friends, football, cars, and motorcycles, that’s about it.”
How has he adjusted to having to spend so much time in such far flung locations as Los Angeles and Malta, and how accommodating is his wife?
“I guess I’m very fortunate. For me it’s very easy to maintain a normal kind of life when you’re together with your family. If they weren’t with me, it would be impossible, but they travel with me on location. There’s no doubt it’s difficult for my wife. She works harder than anyone on a film set, but she’s a very resourceful lady. I’m blessed to be married to such a wonderful, strong woman, and she loves it too. She enjoys the travel, and the kids get the benefits out of it. My son is nearly four now. and he really is displaying the benefits of having traveled. At present it’s a wonderful thing. Later when it becomes a problem we’ll have to deal with it.”
What are the children’s names?
“My son’s name is Klaus, and my (two year old) daughter’s is Sophia.”
The conflict in the movie is between Bruce Banner and his father.
In real life, has he been in touch with his personal Hulk?
“I think we all have.”
Was he able to draw from his own experience?
“Both my parents are very, very passionate Europeans, so I’ve seen both the good and bad side of that. But I truly had a wonderful upbringing and have two beautiful parents. Unlike the Hulk, there was no deep, vindictive trauma to draw upon. I find that if you’ve experienced a lot of love, a lot of passion in your life, which I have through my family, it can put you in touch with your raw nerves, and with a little bit of imagination you can find parallels in any part you play.”
How about the women in his life, his mother and his wife, have they been a more calming influence?
“In different ways. I would say my mother is probably a more explosive type of person. My wife on the other hand is a hideously wonderful communicator, which can at times be quite exhausting because she knows how to talk a situation through to its very end, which I’ve learned is a far better approach. So I’ve been exposed to different kinds of spectrums of communication.”
How important is his ethnic background?
“Very important to me even though I was born and bred in Australia, and like a lot of people from Melbourne — it’s a very culturally mixed city — I am comfortable with my European background . I’m proud of it and very much in touch with it. Right until very recently when my mother’s mother passed away, my grandparents have been a big part of my life. I’ve always been very close to them. I’ve had a direct connection to both Germany and Croatia. I like to think I have a lot of European qualities in me, but I always think of myself as Australian. Even my parents see themselves as Australian. I rush back home whenever I finish filming. I don’t think I could live anywhere else.”
In the movie, the CGI Hulk (created in his image) has more scenes than Bruce Banner. Does that bother him?
“I don’t have a problem with that. I see my role as absolutely vital and I am more than comfortable with the idea that a large portion of the film is not having me on screen. It doesn’t bother me.”
Because of the intensity of the role he passed out a few times during the filming.
How difficult was it working with Ang Lee, who is known as a perfectionist?
“I won’t deny that he wanted a lot of coverage of every scene. There weren’t many that were under 60 or 70 takes, and some went over a hundred. There was one scene with Sam Elliot, where he comes to the house. I’m sure it got up to 170 or thereabouts.”
Would he work with him again?
“Oh, absolutely. As a director I would describe him as a philosophical film maker. He has very long winded conversations that go on forever, and at the time you’re not quite sure why. But then months later you’ll be doing a scene, and some of those thoughts will come back to you.”
How would he describe him?
“A sledgehammer wrapped in cotton wool. He’s exacting and demanding in the best possible sense. For him every frame has to be perfect. And you don’t mind bleeding for that type of director. His vision wasn’t about ego, it wasn’t about power. And at the end of every day it was very satisfying knowing you had achieved something.”
He and fellow Australian Hugh Jackman share much in common.
They’re both starring in summer blockbusters, and they’re both parents of a four year old boy.
“Obviously we’ve been mates a long long time and we’ve known each other for a long long time. We’re both part of the Marvel (comics) world. It kind of hit me last month. We were both in London, I was shooting there, and he was there for the X-Men 2 premiere. We were having a drink at the bar, and I said to him, ‘Hugh, do you realize you’re Wolverine and I’m Bruce Banner.’ It was one of those moments.”
Did he ever ask Ang why he selected him?
“I was too timid to ask, but maybe after the premiere I’ll pull him aside and ask him.”
Was he always timid, and growing up, somewhat introverted”?
“Was I introverted? Maybe slightly. I was probably someone more interested in watching other people than taking centre stage. I did enjoy mimicry, and the response I’d get from it, but I am not a big seeker of attention, although I enjoy performing.”
Would he ever consider moving to Hollywood?
“There’s no point, is there? No guarantee that all films are shot there.”
How bad a student was he in high school?
“I wasn’t really bad, although I did repeat one year just out of laziness. But that was because I hate being told what to do. And I hated the rigidity of the school environment. When I was fourteen I always felt I was ready to leave school not because I was a rascal but because I felt like a twenty two year old who wanted to get out of the system.”
And his aspirations?
“To find great characters to do and work with great directors. I read lots of scripts. I take a long time to make decisions, and hopefully I’ll be able to find great, great roles. As an actor that’s the only thing I’m really interested in doing.”
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