---
name: "Geoffrey Rush"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/geoffrey-rush"
fi1m_id: "geoffrey-rush"
imdb_id: "nm0001691"
tmdb_id: 118
wikidata_id: "Q166272"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "6 July 1951"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 15
average_fi1m_score: 67
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 15
updated: "2026-10-02T22:54:18.349058+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Geoffrey Rush

## Identity

Geoffrey Rush

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/geoffrey-rush
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** geoffrey-rush
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001691
- **TMDB ID:** 118
- **Wikidata ID:** Q166272
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Rush, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q166272, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001691/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/118

Actor. Born 6 July 1951 in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 6 July 1951, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
- **Active:** 1996–2017
- **Also known as:** Geoffrey Roy Rush
- **Frequently works with:** [Jerry Bruckheimer](https://film.one/person/jerry-bruckheimer.md), [Johnny Depp](https://film.one/person/johnny-depp.md), [Ted Elliott](https://film.one/person/ted-elliott.md), [Terry Rossio](https://film.one/person/terry-rossio.md), [Brenton Thwaites](https://film.one/person/brenton-thwaites.md), [Cate Blanchett](https://film.one/person/cate-blanchett.md), [Eric Fellner](https://film.one/person/eric-fellner.md), [Gore Verbinski](https://film.one/person/gore-verbinski.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar (1 won · 3 nominated)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 67, as actor, over 15 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 81 (3), 2000s 72 (6), 2010s 54 (6)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 67 to 63 across 15 titles
- **Score spread:** 6 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 6 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 6 of 15 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 8, Adventure 7, Action 5, Fantasy 5, History 5, Animation 2
- **Screen time:** 32 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $6,829m across 15 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Rush, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q166272, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001691/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/118

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*Finding Nemo*](https://film.one/film/finding-nemo.md) (85), [*Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl*](https://film.one/film/pirates-of-the-caribbean-the-curse-of-the-black-pearl.md) (81), [*Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End*](https://film.one/film/pirates-of-the-caribbean-at-worlds-end.md) (55), [*Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales*](https://film.one/film/pirates-of-the-caribbean-dead-men-tell-no-tales.md) (45), [*Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides*](https://film.one/film/pirates-of-the-caribbean-on-stranger-tides.md) (45)
- **Apple TV:** [*The King's Speech*](https://film.one/film/the-kings-speech.md) (82), [*Shakespeare in Love*](https://film.one/film/shakespeare-in-love.md) (79), [*Lantana*](https://film.one/film/lantana.md) (78)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Munich*](https://film.one/film/munich.md) (80), [*Gods of Egypt*](https://film.one/film/gods-of-egypt.md) (40)
- **Netflix:** [*Minions*](https://film.one/film/minions.md) (61)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Geoffrey Rush

> Geoffrey Rush is a conspicuous actor, with a physical wit that suits rogues and eccentrics. We like him most when he gives those people warmth, as in *Shine*; the theatrical flourishes can also become too much.

In *Shine* (1996), Geoffrey Rush gives the adult David Helfgott enough humour to make spending time with him a pleasure. There is plenty to notice in the performance, but the eccentricities never account for the whole person. We were moved by *Shine* because Rush gives us someone to care about quite apart from the musical talent. We value that warmth most in his acting, especially when a part offers so many opportunities to overdo it.

Director Scott Hicks's casting helps: Alex Rafalowicz plays David as a child, Noah Taylor as an adolescent and Rush as an adult. Taylor's vulnerability makes the pressure on David credible, and the changes of actor do not interrupt our sense of who he is. Rush has more to catch the eye, which makes it easy to give him credit for sympathy that Taylor has already earned. The drama takes shortcuts, but this continuity works, and Rush's humour keeps the film interested in David beyond his next performance.

Rush remained primarily a theatre actor until the mid-1990s, with *Shine* bringing international recognition in 1996. The international films that followed often put his comic timing and physical expressiveness to work in supporting parts. His Philip Henslowe in *Shakespeare in Love* (1998) fits that pattern; the Marquis de Sade in *Quills* (2000) offers a more forceful use of his theatricality. His skill at vocal and physical mimicry is put to good use in *The Life and Death of Peter Sellers* (2004).

The *Pirates of the Caribbean* films expose the risk of that approach. Rush first played Captain Hector Barbossa in *Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl* (2003), a roguish part suited to his physical wit. The exaggeration can also become wearing, with too much effort spent making sure we notice the performance. Start with *Shine*, and resist the temptation to give Rush all the credit.

## Biography

Geoffrey Rush is an Australian actor. He played David Helfgott as an adult in the 1996 film *Shine*.

Rush received an Academy Award for Best Actor for *Shine*. He has also appeared in the *Pirates of the Caribbean* series as Captain Hector Barbossa (2003–2017), *The King's Speech* (2010) as Lionel Logue, and provided the voice of Nigel in *Finding Nemo* (2003). He won a Tony Award for *Exit the King* (2009) and a Primetime Emmy Award for *The Life and Death of Peter Sellers* (2004). Rush is the founding president of the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts and was named Australian of the Year in 2012.

*Sources: imdb.com, britannica.com, en.wikipedia.org.*

## On Fi1m (15)

- *Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales* (2017), Fi1m 45, as Hector Barbossa — [page](https://film.one/film/pirates-of-the-caribbean-dead-men-tell-no-tales.md)
- *Gods of Egypt* (2016), Fi1m 40, as Ra — [page](https://film.one/film/gods-of-egypt.md)
- *Minions* (2015), Fi1m 61, as Narrator (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/minions.md)
- *The Book Thief* (2013), Fi1m 49, as Hans Hubermann — [page](https://film.one/film/the-book-thief.md)
- *Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides* (2011), Fi1m 45, as Hector Barbossa — [page](https://film.one/film/pirates-of-the-caribbean-on-stranger-tides.md)
- *The King's Speech* (2010), Fi1m 82, as Lionel Logue — [page](https://film.one/film/the-kings-speech.md)
- *Elizabeth: The Golden Age* (2007), Fi1m 54, as Sir Francis Walsingham — [page](https://film.one/film/elizabeth-the-golden-age.md)
- *Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End* (2007), Fi1m 55, as Barbossa — [page](https://film.one/film/pirates-of-the-caribbean-at-worlds-end.md)
- *Munich* (2005), Fi1m 80, as Ephraim — [page](https://film.one/film/munich.md)
- *Finding Nemo* (2003), Fi1m 85, as Nigel (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/finding-nemo.md)
- *Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl* (2003), Fi1m 81, as Barbossa — [page](https://film.one/film/pirates-of-the-caribbean-the-curse-of-the-black-pearl.md)
- *Lantana* (2001), Fi1m 78, as John Knox — [page](https://film.one/film/lantana.md)
- *Elizabeth* (1998), Fi1m 82, as Sir Francis Walsingham — [page](https://film.one/film/elizabeth.md)
- *Shakespeare in Love* (1998), Fi1m 79, as Philip Henslowe — [page](https://film.one/film/shakespeare-in-love.md)
- *Shine* (1996), Fi1m 82, as David Helfgott - Adult — [page](https://film.one/film/shine.md)

## Complete filmography (67)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Mr. Nelson, Did You Kill People?* (2026), as Dr. Daniels
- *Pirates of the Caribbean | Disneyland Resort* (2025), as Captain Barbossa (voice)
- *The Rule of Jenny Pen* (2025), as Stefan Mortensen · Executive Producer
- *Storm Boy* (2019), as Mike 'Storm Boy' Kingley · Executive Producer
- *Final Portrait* (2017), as Alberto Giacometti
- *Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales* (2017), as Hector Barbossa — Fi1m 45, [page](https://film.one/film/pirates-of-the-caribbean-dead-men-tell-no-tales.md)
- *Genius* (2017), series, as Albert Einstein
- *Gods of Egypt* (2016), as Ra — Fi1m 40, [page](https://film.one/film/gods-of-egypt.md)
- *The Daughter* (2015), as Henry
- *Holding the Man* (2015), as Barry
- *Unity* (2015), as Narrator (voice)
- *Minions* (2015), as Narrator (voice) — Fi1m 61, [page](https://film.one/film/minions.md)
- *Oscar Wilde's the Nightingale and the Rose* (2015), as Oak Tree
- *The Book Thief* (2013), as Hans Hubermann — Fi1m 49, [page](https://film.one/film/the-book-thief.md)
- *The Best Offer* (2013), as Virgil Oldman
- *The Man Who Could Not Dream* (2012), as Narrator / Talking Bird
- *Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen* (2012), as (archive footage)
- *The Eye of the Storm* (2011), as Basil Hunter · Executive Producer
- *Green Lantern* (2011), as Tomar-Re (voice)
- *Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides* (2011), as Hector Barbossa — Fi1m 45, [page](https://film.one/film/pirates-of-the-caribbean-on-stranger-tides.md)
- *The Warrior's Way* (2010), as Ron
- *The King's Speech* (2010), as Lionel Logue · Executive Producer — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/the-kings-speech.md)
- *Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole* (2010), as Ezylryb (voice)
- *Lowdown* (2010), series, as Narrator (voice)
- *Bran Nue Dae* (2009), as Father Benedictus
- *$9.99* (2009), as Angel (voice)
- *The Man Inside Dame Edna* (2008), as Narrator (Australian version) (voice)
- *Elizabeth: The Golden Age* (2007), as Sir Francis Walsingham — Fi1m 54, [page](https://film.one/film/elizabeth-the-golden-age.md)
- *The Pixar Story* (2007), as Nigel (voice) (archive footage)
- *Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End* (2007), as Barbossa — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/pirates-of-the-caribbean-at-worlds-end.md)
- *Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest* (2006), as Captain Hector Barbossa — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/pirates-of-the-caribbean-dead-mans-chest.md)
- *Candy* (2006), as Casper
- *Munich* (2005), as Ephraim — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/munich.md)
- *The Life and Death of Peter Sellers* (2004), as Peter Sellers
- *Harvie Krumpet* (2003), as Narrator (voice)
- *Intolerable Cruelty* (2003), as Donovan Donaly
- *Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl* (2003), as Barbossa — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/pirates-of-the-caribbean-the-curse-of-the-black-pearl.md)
- *Finding Nemo* (2003), as Nigel (voice) — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/finding-nemo.md)
- *Ned Kelly* (2003), as Superintendent Francis Hare
- *Swimming Upstream* (2003), as Harold Fingleton
- *The Banger Sisters* (2002), as Harry Plummer
- *Frida* (2002), as Leon Trotsky
- *Kath & Kim* (2002), series, as Geoff
- *Lantana* (2001), as John Knox — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/lantana.md)
- *The Tailor of Panama* (2001), as Harry Pendel
- *The Magic Pudding* (2000), as Bunyip Bluegum (voice)
- *Quills* (2000), as Marquis de Sade
- *House on Haunted Hill* (1999), as Stephen Price
- *Mystery Men* (1999), as Casanova Frankenstein
- *Shakespeare in Love* (1998), as Philip Henslowe — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/shakespeare-in-love.md)
- *Elizabeth* (1998), as Sir Francis Walsingham — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/elizabeth.md)
- *Les Misérables* (1998), as Javert
- *A Little Bit of Soul* (1998), as Godfrey Usher
- *Oscar and Lucinda* (1997), as Narrator (voice)
- *Twisted* (1997), as Harry Chisholm (segment 'Bonus Mileage')
- *Children of the Revolution* (1996), as Zachary Welch
- *Twisted Tales* (1996), series, as Harry Chisholm
- *Shine* (1996), as David Helfgott - Adult — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/shine.md)
- *Mercury* (1996), series, as Bill Wyatt
- *Dad and Dave: On Our Selection* (1995), as Dave Rudd
- *Twelfth Night* (1987), as Sir Andrew Aguecheek
- *Starstruck* (1982), as Floor Manager
- *Hoodwink* (1981), Actor
- *Being Brendo*, series, as Dr. Lance Pickering
- *Verona Spies*, Actor
- *Raised Eyebrows*, as Groucho Marx
- *Shearing the Love*, as Bob Castlehead · Executive Producer

## Gallery

- ![Geoffrey Rush, (c) Nuta Lucian (2023)](https://film.one/media/person/86791/gallery-c471f41e6c63.jpg) Geoffrey Rush, (c) Nuta Lucian (2023) — Nuță Lucian from Cluj-Napoca, Romania, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e2/Gala_de_%C3%AEnchidere_TIFF.22_2023_%2852982397772%29.jpg/1280px-Gala_de_%C3%AEnchidere_TIFF.22_2023_%2852982397772%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Geoffrey Rush](https://film.one/media/person/86791/gallery-d491af6822e5.jpg) Geoffrey Rush — Maximilian Bühn, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/Geoffrey_Rush_Final_Portrait_Red_Carpet_Berlinale_2017_01_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Geoffrey_Rush_Final_Portrait_Red_Carpet_Berlinale_2017_01_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Geoffrey Rush, (c) Nuta Lucian (2023)](https://film.one/media/person/86791/gallery-d7d045f9204b.jpg) Geoffrey Rush, (c) Nuta Lucian (2023) — Nuță Lucian from Cluj-Napoca, Romania, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7d/Gala_de_%C3%AEnchidere_TIFF.22_2023_%2852982399387%29.jpg/1280px-Gala_de_%C3%AEnchidere_TIFF.22_2023_%2852982399387%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Geoffrey Rush, (c) Nuta Lucian (2023)](https://film.one/media/person/86791/gallery-9815469293f8.jpg) Geoffrey Rush, (c) Nuta Lucian (2023) — Nuță Lucian from Cluj-Napoca, Romania, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Gala_de_%C3%AEnchidere_TIFF.22_2023_%2852982399397%29.jpg/1280px-Gala_de_%C3%AEnchidere_TIFF.22_2023_%2852982399397%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Geoffrey Rush](https://film.one/media/person/86791/gallery-1e7707ee8f96.jpg) Geoffrey Rush — Image via TMDB
- ![Geoffrey Rush](https://film.one/media/person/86791/gallery-1e67013c1ab8.jpg) Geoffrey Rush — Image via TMDB
- ![Geoffrey Rush](https://film.one/media/person/86791/gallery-385fa4b2d70f.jpg) Geoffrey Rush — Image via TMDB
- ![Geoffrey Rush, (c) Nuta Lucian (2023)](https://film.one/media/person/86791/gallery-709984126404.jpg) Geoffrey Rush, (c) Nuta Lucian (2023) — Nuță Lucian from Cluj-Napoca, Romania, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/58/Gala_de_%C3%AEnchidere_TIFF.22_2023_%2852983000466%29.jpg/1280px-Gala_de_%C3%AEnchidere_TIFF.22_2023_%2852983000466%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Geoffrey Rush, (c) Nuta Lucian (2023)](https://film.one/media/person/86791/gallery-a44d4e713c8f.jpg) Geoffrey Rush, (c) Nuta Lucian (2023) — Nuță Lucian from Cluj-Napoca, Romania, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/Gala_de_%C3%AEnchidere_TIFF.22_2023_%2852983000496%29.jpg/1280px-Gala_de_%C3%AEnchidere_TIFF.22_2023_%2852983000496%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Geoffrey Rush](https://film.one/media/person/86791/gallery-6bb1426c0d86.jpg) Geoffrey Rush — Image via TMDB
- ![Geoffrey Rush](https://film.one/media/person/86791/gallery-c19625312897.jpg) Geoffrey Rush — Image via TMDB
- ![Geoffrey Rush](https://film.one/media/person/86791/gallery-ed9bdbb35ab8.jpg) Geoffrey Rush — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 1 won, 3 nominated

- 2011: Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *The King's Speech*
- 2001: Best Actor (nominated), for *Quills*
- 1999: Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *Shakespeare in Love*
- 1997: Best Actor (won), for *Shine*

### BAFTA Film Awards — 3 won

- 2011: Best Actor in a Supporting Role (won), for *The King's Speech*
- 1999: Best Actor in a Supporting Role (won), for *Elizabeth*
- 1998: Best Actor in a Leading Role (won), for *Shine*

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 1 won

- 2005: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie (won), for *The Life and Death of Peter Sellers*

### Other awards — 5 won, 1 nominated

- Companion of the Order of Australia 2014: Companion of the Order of Australia (won)
- Australian of the Year 2012: Australian of the Year (won)
- European Film Award – People's Choice Award for Best European Film 2011: European Film Award – People's Choice Award for Best European Film (nominated), for *The King's Speech*
- Theatre World Award 2009: Theatre World Award (won)
- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play 2009: Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play (won), for *Exit the King*
- Centenary Medal 2001: Centenary Medal (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/geoffrey-rush