Aaron Pedersen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Aaron Pedersen
Pedersen at the 2013 Sydney Film Festival
Born	(1970-11-24) 24 November 1970 (age 54) Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1993–present

Aaron Pedersen (born 24 November 1970) is an Aboriginal Australian actor. He is famous for his many roles in TV shows and movies. He is especially known for playing Detective Jay Swan in the film Mystery Road (2013). He also played this role in the movie's sequel, Goldstone (2016), and the TV series Mystery Road (2018–2020). Aaron has won several acting awards, including a big one in 2021 called the AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Series.

Early life

Aaron Pedersen is from the Arrernte and Arabana groups. He was born and grew up in Alice Springs, Australia. He is one of eight children. From a young age, he helped look after his brother, Vinnie. Vinnie has cerebral palsy and a mild intellectual disability.

In the early 1990s, Aaron trained at the ABC in Melbourne. He worked there as a journalist and presenter. He also hosted a TV show called Blackout.

Career

Aaron's acting career started in 1994. He starred in a miniseries called Heartland. In 1995, he became well-known as a co-host of Gladiators Australia. This was a popular Australian game show.

His first big acting role was in 1997. He played a lawyer named Vince Cellini in Wildside. In 1999, he played Detective Senior Constable Michael Reilly in Water Rats. He also had a major part in The Secret Life of Us in 2005.

From 2007, Aaron had the main role in the SBS drama series The Circuit. From 2007 to 2011, he was in Channel Seven's drama City Homicide. He also played Cam Delray in the ABC Television's Jack Irish series. This series started in 2012 and ran for several seasons.

Aaron took the lead role of Detective Jay Swan in Ivan Sen's film Mystery Road (2013). He played this character again in the sequel film Goldstone (2016). He also played Jay Swan in the TV series Mystery Road (2018–2020).

He played a war veteran named Frank Gibbs in A Place to Call Home (2017–2018). He was also Tom Campbell in Total Control (2019). In 2020 and 2021, he hosted an ABC Television documentary series called Australia Remastered. In the same years, he co-hosted another ABC documentary series. It was called Back to Nature and he presented it with writer Holly Ringland.

In 2024, Aaron Pedersen is set to appear in the Foxtel/Binge series High Country.

Recognition

In 2007, Aaron received the Bob Maza Fellowship. This award helps new Indigenous actors grow their skills.

Awards

Aaron Pedersen has been nominated for and won many awards.

He won the Best Actor award at the Melbourne Underground Film Festival for Darklovestory (2006).

His short film My Brother Vinnie (2006) won an award. It was named Best Short Documentary at the Melbourne International Film Festival. It was also nominated for an IF Award. Aaron was nominated for a Deadly Award for his great work in film.

Pedersen was nominated for a Deadly Award for Male Actor of the Year in 2003, 2007, and 2011.

In 2013, he was nominated for Best Performance by an Actor. This was at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards for his role in Mystery Road.

After many nominations over the years, he won a big award in 2021. He received the AACTA International Award for Best Actor in a Series for his role in Mystery Road.

Other roles

Aaron Pedersen often speaks at schools and prisons. He talks about important issues. He also hosts different events, like the Melbourne Indigenous Arts Festival. He has hosted the Black Nite Film Festival since 2009. He was a co-host for the 2011 Deadly Awards. He does many other public speaking events too.

Personal life

Aaron has looked after his younger brother Vinnie for a long time. Vinnie has cerebral palsy and mild intellectual disabilities. In 1997, Aaron's grandmother, who helped care for Vinnie, passed away. Aaron then became Vinnie's full-time carer. Vinnie moved to Sydney to live with Aaron. Later, Aaron's de facto mother-in-law, Mum Frances, helped out. Vinnie then moved in with her.

Vinnie sometimes goes with Aaron when he is filming. A short documentary film called My Brother Vinnie (2006) was made about them. Aaron wrote the film, and his friends Steven McGregor and Warwick Thornton helped make it. The film was shown at the Melbourne International Film Festival.

Aaron's partner is Sarah Bond. He has shared that caring for Vinnie means they do not have space in their lives for children. Aaron enjoys working with wood. He says he secretly wishes he could be a "tradie" (a tradesperson).

Filmography

Film

Television

See also

In Spanish: Aaron Pedersen para niños