19/10/2026
Judge Announcement 📣
We are stoked to announce Sullivan. Stapleton will be joining us for the first time as a judge!
In recent years Sullivan Stapleton has emerged as an actor of international renown; having starred in NBC’s acclaimed television series BLINDSPOT, in the leading role of FBI Agent, Kurt Weller. He also recently starred in Rachel Griffiths’ directorial debut, RIDE LIKE A GIRL, alongside Teresa Palmer and Sam Neill.
After working extensively in film and television in Australia it was Sullivan’s compelling performance as Craig Cody in David Michod’s ANIMAL KINGDOM that proved to be his breakthrough role and garnered him international recognition. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2010 and received numerous awards and nominations, including a nomination for Sullivan as Best Supporting Actor at the Australian Film Institute (AFI) awards.
Following the success of ANIMAL KINGDOM, Sullivan was cast in the Ruben Fleischer-directed film GANGSTER SQUAD alongside Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. In the same year he was cast in a leading role in the SKY (BSkyB)/Cinemax/HBO television series STRIKE BACK, and following this he starred in Warner Bros 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE, the latest film in the 300 franchise. Most recently, he appeared in Steven Quale’s feature film RENEGADES, opposite J.K. Simmons.
Prior to Sullivan’s international career he appeared in numerous local film and television productions including the hugely popular Network Nine franchise series UNDERBELLY, Network Ten’s RUSH and THE SECRET LIFE OF US, Foxtel’s SATISFACTION, and SBS’s CARLA CARMETTI PD.
Sullivan’s Australian screen credits include the coming-of-age film DECEMBER BOYS with Daniel Radcliffe; THE HUNTER alongside Willem Dafoe and Sam Neill; and Kriv Stenders KILL ME THREE TIMES with Teresa Palmer and Simon Pegg. Sullivan also starred in the Tony Ayres-directed CUT SNAKE for which he was nominated for best lead actor at the 2015 AACTA awards.
