Matthew Newton
Encyclopedia
Matthew Newton is an Australia
n stage and screen actor. Born in Melbourne
, he is the son of television personalities, Bert
and Patti Newton
, brother of Lauren Newton, brother-in-law of Matt Welsh
and uncle to Sam Albert and Eva Eunice Newton Welsh.
in the film adaptation of the popular teen novel Looking For Alibrandi
. Probably his most recognisable international role was in the American
science fiction show Farscape
(2001) as the character Jothee, or as the vampire
Armand in Queen of the Damned
(in 2002).
In 2002, Newton was nominated for a Logie Award
for his role in the television series Changi
.
In 2004, Newton directed, wrote and starred in his first feature film, Right Here, Right Now. The film was produced with private funding and was selected to screen in a few festivals. In 2005, Newton starred in The Surgeon
that aired on Channel Ten.
In 2006, he appeared in the first and second seasons of improvisation comedy show Thank God You're Here
. Newton also starred in a TV series for TV1
called Stupid, Stupid Man
set in the office of a fictional men's magazine called COQ where he plays Nick Driscoll, the features writer.
In 2008 he was reportedly close to being cast for a role as a gangland figure in the first season of Underbelly
but did not get the role. He went on to appear in Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities
as protagonist Terry Clark, portraying the New Zealand crime syndicate boss.
Also in 2009, Newton wrote, directed and starred in the feature Three Blind Mice which made its international premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and won the Critics Prize at the 2008 London Film Festival.
In 2010, Newton was announced as the host of the Australian version of The X Factor on the Seven Network
. However, in August 2010 following two domestic violence incidents involving girlfriend Rachael Taylor
at a hotel in Rome, Newton had to quit The X Factor due to 'medical advice'.
In 2011, Newton will star in Face to Face
, an independent Australian film directed by Michael Rymer
.
. He had recently been signed to co-host The Matt and Boothy Show with comedian Akmal Saleh in the prime time drive shift on Fridays. The Daily Telegraph
confirmed that Newton announced the radio station had released him from his contract, reportedly worth up to $200,000 a year.
The station suspended his involvement in the broadcasts, which were due to begin on 15 January, after allegations were made public that he had assaulted Brooke Satchwell
. Australian TV Actress Kate Ritchie
replaced him at Nova.
on Network Ten
in which he engaged in simulated sex acts and other suggestive activity as well as bad language. The Daily Telegraph
reported his antics and the station received criticism from outraged viewers who complained the show was "sub-standard coverage" and "the worst ever".
. The relationship with Satchwell ended on bad terms, leading to Newton being arrest
ed on 16 October and charged with intimidation
and assault occasioning actual bodily harm over incidents alleged to have occurred on 13 September and 6 October. Reportedly, Newton repeatedly punched her in the head on more than one occasion and attempted to gouge her eyes and face. He denied the charges. A court
hearing took place in his absence on 17 January 2007. Following a not guilty plea, presented by solicitor Chris Murphy, his matter was adjourned until 31 January.
Newton was originally charged with four offences, but on 21 May 2007 a court heard he would plead guilty to just one count of common assault – with police agreeing to drop counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and stalking and intimidating Satchwell, intending to cause her to fear physical or mental harm. On 12 June, Newton appeared in court and pleaded guilty to the one count of common assault and was put on a 12-month good behaviour bond.
Magistrate Paul Cloran, who recorded the conviction against Newton, acknowledged that the actor was of good character but felt compelled to record a conviction. Newton received strong support from friends, family and work colleagues, who believed the incident with Satchwell to be entirely out of character.
In July 2007, Newton was successful in having the conviction overturned. Solicitor Chris Murphy tendered a letter from Dr Robert Hampshire, Newton's psychiatrist, which outlined his depressive illness and stated he was unlikely to reoffend. Judge Joseph Moore said, "It does not in any way lead the court to give special consideration to his case because he is a person of high profile", referring to Newton's celebrity status; and, "The way in which he has been given particular media attention has acted as a considerable measure of punishment."
One day later Newton made news headlines when he caused panic among airline staff and passengers by departing an aircraft before the doors were closed. The incident was reported widely in the Australian media.
In December 2009, Newton made headlines again after complaining about his hotel room in the country town of Mildura.
at a hotel in Rome, Taylor took out an Apprehended Violence Order against him. The media also reported his heavy use of alcohol, cocaine, marijuana and ice at this time.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n stage and screen actor. Born in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, he is the son of television personalities, Bert
Bert Newton
Albert Watson "Bert" Newton, AM, MBE is an Australian television personality, known for hosting television series such as In Melbourne Tonight, Good Morning Australia and 20 to 1. Newton has also hosted the Logie Awards on numerous occasions through his career.-Early life:Newton was born in...
and Patti Newton
Patti Newton
Patti Newton is a Melbourne-born Australian entertainer and radio and television presenter.-Career:...
, brother of Lauren Newton, brother-in-law of Matt Welsh
Matt Welsh
Matthew "Matt" Welsh is an Australian swimmer who is the former world champion in the backstroke and butterfly. Welsh trained under coach Ian Pope at the Melbourne Vicentre Club. He took two golds in 50 metres butterfly and 50 metres backstroke, during one hour, at the World Championships in...
and uncle to Sam Albert and Eva Eunice Newton Welsh.
Acting
Newton has performed in Australia and abroad on stage, television and movies. In 1992, he starred in Late For School, a drama series that aired briefly on Channel Ten. Over the next few years, Newton had guest roles in various shows. In 2000, he starred alongside with Pia MirandaPia Miranda
Pia Miranda is an Australian, multi-award-winning actress whose career was launched with her successful 1999 role in the feature film Looking for Alibrandi, an Australian film based on the novel by Melina Marchetta....
in the film adaptation of the popular teen novel Looking For Alibrandi
Looking for Alibrandi
Looking for Alibrandi is a 1999 Australian film written by Melina Marchetta based on the novel of the same name. The film sets in the 1990s Sydney, New South Wales and starring Australian actors, including Pia Miranda as Josephine Alibrandi, the film's main character, Anthony LaPaglia as her...
. Probably his most recognisable international role was in the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
science fiction show Farscape
Farscape
Farscape is an Australian-American science fiction television series filmed in Australia and produced originally for the Nine Network. The series was conceived by Rockne S. O'Bannon and produced by Jim Henson Productions and Hallmark Entertainment...
(2001) as the character Jothee, or as the vampire
Vampire
Vampires are mythological or folkloric beings who subsist by feeding on the life essence of living creatures, regardless of whether they are undead or a living person...
Armand in Queen of the Damned
Queen of the Damned (film)
Queen of the Damned is a 2002 film adaptation of the third novel of Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles series, The Queen of the Damned, although the film contains many plot elements from the latter novel's predecessor, The Vampire Lestat. It stars Aaliyah as the vampire queen Akasha, and Stuart...
(in 2002).
In 2002, Newton was nominated for a Logie Award
Logie Award
The TV Week Logie Awards are the Australian television industry awards, which have been presented annually since 1959. Renamed by Graham Kennedy in 1960 after he won the first 'Star Of The Year' award, the name 'Logie' awards honours John Logie Baird, a Scotsman who invented the television as a...
for his role in the television series Changi
Changi (television)
Changi is a critically acclaimed six-part Australian television miniseries broadcast by ABC TV in 2001. It originally aired from 14 October 2001 to 18 November 2001.-Overview:...
.
In 2004, Newton directed, wrote and starred in his first feature film, Right Here, Right Now. The film was produced with private funding and was selected to screen in a few festivals. In 2005, Newton starred in The Surgeon
The Surgeon
The Surgeon was an Australian primetime television Medical drama. It screened at 9:30pm on Thursdays on Network Ten and in Ireland early morning on RTÉ One. The show was based at a fictional hospital named Sydney General Hospital....
that aired on Channel Ten.
In 2006, he appeared in the first and second seasons of improvisation comedy show Thank God You're Here
Thank God You're Here
Thank God You're Here is an Australian television improvised comedy program created by Working Dog Productions, which premiered on Network Ten on 5 April 2006, and aired for the first three seasons with Seven for the fourth season...
. Newton also starred in a TV series for TV1
TV1 (Australia)
TV1 is an Australian cable and satellite channel available on Foxtel, Austar and Optus Television's subscription platforms.-History:TV1 launched as part of the original Galaxy lineup. The channel is jointly owned by Sony International Television, Universal Studios and Paramount. The channel shows...
called Stupid, Stupid Man
Stupid, Stupid Man
Stupid, Stupid Man is an Australian television comedy which originally aired on TV1. It is set in the office of a fictional men's magazine COQ , parodying such men's magazines as FHM and Ralph. The first season began broadcasting on 14 November 2006, and a second season began on 11 December 2007...
set in the office of a fictional men's magazine called COQ where he plays Nick Driscoll, the features writer.
In 2008 he was reportedly close to being cast for a role as a gangland figure in the first season of Underbelly
Underbelly (TV series)
Underbelly is a 13-part Australian television mini-series that retells the real events of the 1995–2004 gangland war in Melbourne, and is the first series in the larger Underbelly Franchise. It depicts the key players in Melbourne's criminal underworld, including the Carlton Crew and their rival,...
but did not get the role. He went on to appear in Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities
Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities
Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities is a 13-part Australian television mini-series loosely based on real events that stemmed from the marijuana trade centred around the New South Wales town of Griffith. The timeline of the series is the years between 1976 and 1987. Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities...
as protagonist Terry Clark, portraying the New Zealand crime syndicate boss.
Also in 2009, Newton wrote, directed and starred in the feature Three Blind Mice which made its international premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and won the Critics Prize at the 2008 London Film Festival.
In 2010, Newton was announced as the host of the Australian version of The X Factor on the Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
. However, in August 2010 following two domestic violence incidents involving girlfriend Rachael Taylor
Rachael Taylor
Rachael Taylor is an Australian actress and model. She made her leading role debut in the short-lived Australian program headLand. She then made the transition to Hollywood, appearing in the films Transformers, Shutter, and Splinterheads.-Personal life:Taylor was born in Launceston, Tasmania, the...
at a hotel in Rome, Newton had to quit The X Factor due to 'medical advice'.
In 2011, Newton will star in Face to Face
Face to Face (2011 film)
Face to Face is an independent Australian film directed by Michael Rymer, based on the play of the same name, written by Australian playwright David Williamson. It stars Vince Colosimo, Sigrid Thornton, Luke Ford and Matthew Newton....
, an independent Australian film directed by Michael Rymer
Michael Rymer
Michael Rymer is a television and film director, best known for his work on the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica TV series, for which he directed the pilot miniseries and several episodes of the series...
.
Radio career
On 15 January 2007, Newton was sacked from his new role at NovaNova 96.9
Nova 96.9 is a commercial radio station operating in Sydney, Australia, owned by the DMG Radio Network.-History:One of the driving forces behind the creation of Nova was the growing demographic of youth who were embracing the commercialised anti-pop movement fronted by such artists as Daft Punk...
. He had recently been signed to co-host The Matt and Boothy Show with comedian Akmal Saleh in the prime time drive shift on Fridays. The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph (Australia)
The Daily Telegraph is an Australian tabloid newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, by Nationwide News, part of News Corporation.The Tele, as it is also known, was founded in 1879. From 1936 to 1972, it was owned by Frank Packer's Australian Consolidated Press. That year it was sold to...
confirmed that Newton announced the radio station had released him from his contract, reportedly worth up to $200,000 a year.
The station suspended his involvement in the broadcasts, which were due to begin on 15 January, after allegations were made public that he had assaulted Brooke Satchwell
Brooke Satchwell
Brooke Kerith Satchwell is an Australian actress, model, and environmental spokesperson.-Early life:The first of two children of Andrew Satchwell, a real estate agent and Jane Satchwell, a school teacher. Satchwell has lived on the Mornington Peninsula for most of her life...
. Australian TV Actress Kate Ritchie
Kate Ritchie
Katherine "Kate" Ritchie is an Australian actress, best known for her long-running role as Sally Fletcher on the television soap opera Home and Away. She played the character for 20 years from 1988–2008...
replaced him at Nova.
Controversies
In 2006, Newton appeared on the New Years Eve 2006 episode of The Big Night In with John ForemanThe Big Night In with John Foreman
The Big Night In with John Foreman is an Australian variety show airing on Network Ten and Ovation. It premiered on 3 December 2005 and concluded its first series 6 January 2006 then returned for another season in October 2006....
on Network Ten
Network Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
in which he engaged in simulated sex acts and other suggestive activity as well as bad language. The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph (Australia)
The Daily Telegraph is an Australian tabloid newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, by Nationwide News, part of News Corporation.The Tele, as it is also known, was founded in 1879. From 1936 to 1972, it was owned by Frank Packer's Australian Consolidated Press. That year it was sold to...
reported his antics and the station received criticism from outraged viewers who complained the show was "sub-standard coverage" and "the worst ever".
2006 assault charge
In 2006, Newton split with long time girlfriend, actress Brooke SatchwellBrooke Satchwell
Brooke Kerith Satchwell is an Australian actress, model, and environmental spokesperson.-Early life:The first of two children of Andrew Satchwell, a real estate agent and Jane Satchwell, a school teacher. Satchwell has lived on the Mornington Peninsula for most of her life...
. The relationship with Satchwell ended on bad terms, leading to Newton being arrest
Arrest
An arrest is the act of depriving a person of his or her liberty usually in relation to the purported investigation and prevention of crime and presenting into the criminal justice system or harm to oneself or others...
ed on 16 October and charged with intimidation
Intimidation
Intimidation is intentional behavior "which would cause a person of ordinary sensibilities" fear of injury or harm. It's not necessary to prove that the behavior was so violent as to cause terror or that the victim was actually frightened.Criminal threatening is the crime of intentionally or...
and assault occasioning actual bodily harm over incidents alleged to have occurred on 13 September and 6 October. Reportedly, Newton repeatedly punched her in the head on more than one occasion and attempted to gouge her eyes and face. He denied the charges. A court
Court
A court is a form of tribunal, often a governmental institution, with the authority to adjudicate legal disputes between parties and carry out the administration of justice in civil, criminal, and administrative matters in accordance with the rule of law...
hearing took place in his absence on 17 January 2007. Following a not guilty plea, presented by solicitor Chris Murphy, his matter was adjourned until 31 January.
Newton was originally charged with four offences, but on 21 May 2007 a court heard he would plead guilty to just one count of common assault – with police agreeing to drop counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and stalking and intimidating Satchwell, intending to cause her to fear physical or mental harm. On 12 June, Newton appeared in court and pleaded guilty to the one count of common assault and was put on a 12-month good behaviour bond.
Magistrate Paul Cloran, who recorded the conviction against Newton, acknowledged that the actor was of good character but felt compelled to record a conviction. Newton received strong support from friends, family and work colleagues, who believed the incident with Satchwell to be entirely out of character.
In July 2007, Newton was successful in having the conviction overturned. Solicitor Chris Murphy tendered a letter from Dr Robert Hampshire, Newton's psychiatrist, which outlined his depressive illness and stated he was unlikely to reoffend. Judge Joseph Moore said, "It does not in any way lead the court to give special consideration to his case because he is a person of high profile", referring to Newton's celebrity status; and, "The way in which he has been given particular media attention has acted as a considerable measure of punishment."
2009 events
In November 2009, Newton's hotel room in Kings Cross, Sydney was trashed after the GQ Men's Award Night in Sydney. According to media reports, the damage to the room was over $9,000. The room was booked in the name of his then girlfriend Rachael Taylor and he departed the next day without checking out. Sydney Police investigated the matter but no charges were laid.One day later Newton made news headlines when he caused panic among airline staff and passengers by departing an aircraft before the doors were closed. The incident was reported widely in the Australian media.
In December 2009, Newton made headlines again after complaining about his hotel room in the country town of Mildura.
2010 events
In August 2010 following two domestic violence incidents involving girlfriend Rachael TaylorRachael Taylor
Rachael Taylor is an Australian actress and model. She made her leading role debut in the short-lived Australian program headLand. She then made the transition to Hollywood, appearing in the films Transformers, Shutter, and Splinterheads.-Personal life:Taylor was born in Launceston, Tasmania, the...
at a hotel in Rome, Taylor took out an Apprehended Violence Order against him. The media also reported his heavy use of alcohol, cocaine, marijuana and ice at this time.
2011 events
In February 2011, Newton was charged with breaching the terms of his Apprehended Violence Order. He was released on bail and ordered to appear in Court in March 2011.External links
- TV.com: Matthew Newton. Retrieved 15 January 2006