John Clarke (actor)

Often mistaken for his late namesake across the ditch (aka Fred Dagg), John Clarke was a drummer and singer before he took on acting roles. In his late 30s he got into stage musicals, then moved into screen work via adverts. Drama Deepwater Haven (1993) landed him his first television credit, playing a detective. His first movie role was a year later, in romance Vulcan Lane. Clarke has acted in several films over the years, including blockbuster King Kong (as one of the ship crew) and short films Tom's Dairy and 9 Across. In 2014 Clarke was named Best Actor at the NZ Film Awards after co-starring as a gruff farmer in short Ross & Beth.

You actually do have to genuinely feel the emotion you are trying to get across on film, or it shows up immediately as fake ... I think it was probably the first time I genuinely did get to that inner place during that [funeral] scene. I was quite upset, and it lasted for quite a while after. John Clarke, on acting in award-winning short film Ross & Beth (2014)