--- name: "Simon Baker" canonical: "https://film.one/person/simon-baker" fi1m_id: "simon-baker" imdb_id: "nm0048932" tmdb_id: 1284159 wikidata_id: "Q192021" roles: ["Actor","Director"] born: "30 July 1969" reviewed_on_fi1m: 7 average_fi1m_score: 73 average_as: "actor" average_over: 6 updated: "2026-10-07T19:20:08.726344+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." --- # Simon Baker ## Identity Simon Baker - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/simon-baker - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** simon-baker - **IMDb ID:** nm0048932 - **TMDB ID:** 1284159 - **Wikidata ID:** Q192021 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Baker, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q192021, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0048932/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1284159 Actor and director. Born 30 July 1969 in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia. ## Details - **Work:** Actor, Director - **Born:** 30 July 1969, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia - **Active:** 1997–present - **Also known as:** Simon Baker-Denny, Simon Denny, Simon Baker Denny, Simon Lucas Baker, سایمون بیکر - **Titles on Fi1m:** 7: 6 acting, 1 directing - **Average Fi1m score:** 73, as actor, over 6 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 88 (1), 2000s 70 (2), 2010s 82 (1), 2020s 66 (3) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 72 to 69 across 4 titles - **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 1 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 4 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 5, Crime 3, Mystery 3, Thriller 2, Comedy 1, War & Politics 1 - **Screen time:** 6 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $472m across 3 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Baker, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q192021, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0048932/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1284159 ## Streaming the US now - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Narrow Road to the Deep North*](https://film.one/tv/the-narrow-road-to-the-deep-north.md) (83), [*Scarpetta*](https://film.one/tv/scarpetta.md) (50) - **Disney+:** [*The Mentalist*](https://film.one/tv/the-mentalist.md) (71), [*The Devil Wears Prada*](https://film.one/film/the-devil-wears-prada.md) (70) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Simon Baker > Simon Baker's trick is to look like the most reasonable man at the table and let you work out, a beat too late, that he is the one to watch. He was a charming lead for years; he is a better supporting actor, and he seems to know it. Somewhere in the middle of *Margin Call* (2011), a dozen well-paid people are trying to work out how frightened to be, and Simon Baker's Jared Cohen is not one of them. He is the young executive who has already decided what the firm will do and is waiting, politely, to be asked. Baker plays him with his hands still and his voice level, and it is the level voice that does the damage: he sounds like the calmest man in the building, and he is the one nobody should trust. That is the thing Baker does. He looks affable and he watches, and somewhere in the watching you realise he has understood the situation faster than you have. He learned the trade in Australian soaps, *E Street* (1992–1993) among them, then moved to the United States and made his film debut as Matt Reynolds in *L.A. Confidential* (1997). Television gave him his leads: Nicholas Fallin in *The Guardian* (2001–2004) and then Patrick Jane in *The Mentalist* (2008–2015), the part that made him known everywhere and asked him, every week for seven years, to be charming and slightly wounded and to notice things before anyone else did. He was good at it. The film work of those years was thinner, and the parts, *The Devil Wears Prada* (2006) for instance, were written for his face rather than for anything he might do with it. Then he went home. He directed and starred in *Breath* (2017), and since then has taken supporting parts in Australian films and series, *Limbo* (2023), *Boy Swallows Universe* (2024), *The Narrow Road to the Deep North* (2025), where the affability is gone and what is left is austere and a little haunted. *Scarpetta* (2026) brings him back to American television as Benton Wesley, which he has described as "sort of a very quiet character in amongst a lot of quite big forward characters". That is accurate, and it is also the problem. The series is pulled between two timelines, Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis bickering is the only thing holding it together, and a quiet man in the corner is easy to lose. Hunter Parrish, playing the younger Wesley, gets even less to do. We went into *Margin Call* for Jeremy Irons and Paul Bettany and came out thinking about Cohen, because Baker had made a man with no visible feelings the one we could not stop reading for them. That is a harder trick than the one *The Mentalist* asked of him, and he is better at it. He has said of the later work that it is a relief not to carry the story, and the work agrees with him. Put him at the head of the table and he will be charming. Put him at the far end of it and he will be dangerous, and that is the Baker worth seeking out. ## Biography Simon Baker is an Australian actor and director. He is best known for playing Patrick Jane in the CBS series *The Mentalist* (2008–2015) and Nicholas Fallin in *The Guardian* (2001–2004). His film roles include Matt Reynolds in *L.A. Confidential* (1997), Christian Thompson in *The Devil Wears Prada* (2006) and Jared Cohen in *Margin Call* (2011). Baker began his career in Australian television, appearing in the soap opera *E Street* (1992–1993), for which he received the Logie Award for Most Popular New Talent in 1993. He later moved to the United States. He has received Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe Award nominations for his television performances and has also directed episodes of series in which he starred. In 2026 he portrayed Benton Wesley in the Prime Video series *Scarpetta*. *Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org, tvinsider.com.* ## On Fi1m (7) ### Performed in (6) — the average rests on these - *Scarpetta* (2026), Fi1m 50, as Benton Wesley — [page](https://film.one/tv/scarpetta.md) - *The Narrow Road to the Deep North* (2025), Fi1m 83, as Keith Mulvaney — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-narrow-road-to-the-deep-north.md) - *Boy Swallows Universe* (2024), Fi1m 64, as Robert Bell — [page](https://film.one/tv/boy-swallows-universe.md) - *Margin Call* (2011), Fi1m 82, as Jared Cohen — [page](https://film.one/film/margin-call.md) - *The Devil Wears Prada* (2006), Fi1m 70, as Christian Thompson — [page](https://film.one/film/the-devil-wears-prada.md) - *L.A. Confidential* (1997), Fi1m 88, as Matt Reynolds — [page](https://film.one/film/l-a-confidential.md) ### Directed (1) - *The Mentalist* (2008), Fi1m 71, as Patrick Jane — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-mentalist.md) ## Complete filmography (40) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Scarpetta* (2026), series, as Benton Wesley — Fi1m 50, [page](https://film.one/tv/scarpetta.md) - *The Narrow Road to the Deep North* (2025), series, as Keith Mulvaney — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-narrow-road-to-the-deep-north.md) - *Boy Swallows Universe* (2024), series, as Robert Bell — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/tv/boy-swallows-universe.md) - *Limbo* (2023), as Travis Hurley - *Blaze* (2022), as Luke · Executive Producer - *Roar* (2022), series, as Adam - *High Ground* (2021), as Travis - *Here and Now* (2018), as Nick - *Breath* (2017), as Sando · Producer, Director, Screenplay - *I Give It a Year* (2013), as Guy - *Margin Call* (2011), as Jared Cohen — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/margin-call.md) - *Going Vertical: The Short Board Revolution* (2010), as Narrator - *The Killer Inside Me* (2010), as Howard Hendricks - *Women in Trouble* (2009), as Travis McPherson - *Not Forgotten* (2009), as Jack Bishop - *The Lodger* (2009), as Malcolm - *The Mentalist* (2008), series, as Patrick Jane · Director, Producer — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-mentalist.md) - *Sex and Death 101* (2007), as Roderick Blank - *Smith* (2006), series, as Jeff Breen - *The Devil Wears Prada* (2006), as Christian Thompson — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/the-devil-wears-prada.md) - *Something New* (2006), as Brian Kelly - *Land of the Dead* (2005), as Riley - *The Ring Two* (2005), as Max Rourke - *Book of Love* (2004), as David Walker - *Burst* (2004), Director of Photography - *The Affair of the Necklace* (2001), as Rétaux de Vilette - *The Guardian* (2001), series, as Nick Fallin · Director - *Red Planet* (2000), as Chip Pettengill - *Sunset Strip* (2000), as Michael Scott - *Ride with the Devil* (1999), as George Clyde - *Restaurant* (1999), as Kenny - *Secret Men's Business* (1999), as Andy Greville - *Love from Ground Zero* (1998), as Eric - *Judas Kiss* (1998), as Junior Armstrong - *Most Wanted* (1997), as Stephen Barnes - *L.A. Confidential* (1997), as Matt Reynolds — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/l-a-confidential.md) - *Sweat* (1996), series, as Paul Steadman - *Which Way to the War* (1994), as Private Stan Hawke - *Heartbreak High* (1994), series, as Decoy - *E Street* (1989), series, as Sam Farrell ## Gallery - ![Simon Baker](https://film.one/media/person/22554/gallery-76c3409d873f.jpg) Simon Baker — Martin Kraft, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/MJK_69634_Simon_Baker_%28High_Ground%2C_Berlinale_2020%29.jpg/1280px-MJK_69634_Simon_Baker_%28High_Ground%2C_Berlinale_2020%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Bill Thompson, Maximillian Johnson, Aaron Pedersen, Stephen Maxwell Johnson, Jacob Junior Nayinggul, Jack Thompson, Witiyana Marika and Simon Baker presenting t (2020)](https://film.one/media/person/22554/gallery-8827d02f03cb.jpg) Bill Thompson, Maximillian Johnson, Aaron Pedersen, Stephen Maxwell Johnson, Jacob Junior Nayinggul, Jack Thompson, Witiyana Marika and Simon Baker presenting t (2020) — Martin Kraft, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/MJK_69586_High_Ground_%28Berlinale_2020%29.jpg/1280px-MJK_69586_High_Ground_%28Berlinale_2020%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Bill Thompson, Maximillian Johnson, Stephen Maxwell Johnson, Jacob Junior Nayinggul, Jack Thompson, Witiyana Marika and Simon Baker presenting the movie High Gr (2020)](https://film.one/media/person/22554/gallery-52b8d338364a.jpg) Bill Thompson, Maximillian Johnson, Stephen Maxwell Johnson, Jacob Junior Nayinggul, Jack Thompson, Witiyana Marika and Simon Baker presenting the movie High Gr (2020) — Martin Kraft, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/MJK_69587_High_Ground_%28Berlinale_2020%29.jpg/1280px-MJK_69587_High_Ground_%28Berlinale_2020%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Jacob Junior Nayinggul, Simon Baker and Witiyana Marika presenting the movie High Ground at the Berlinale 2020](https://film.one/media/person/22554/gallery-184e72eca62c.jpg) Jacob Junior Nayinggul, Simon Baker and Witiyana Marika presenting the movie High Ground at the Berlinale 2020 — Martin Kraft, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/MJK_69600_Jacob_Junior_Nayinggul%2C_Simon_Baker_and_Witiyana_Marika_%28High_Ground%2C_Berlinale_2020%29.jpg/1280px-MJK_69600_Jacob_Junior_Nayinggul%2C_Simon_Baker_and_Witiyana_Marika_%28High_Ground%2C_Berlinale_2020%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Simon Baker](https://film.one/media/person/22554/gallery-0a3bc6c972c8.jpg) Simon Baker — Image via TMDB - ![Simon Baker](https://film.one/media/person/22554/gallery-f5f4ce9bd589.jpg) Simon Baker — Image via TMDB - ![Simon Baker](https://film.one/media/person/22554/gallery-55740385d28e.jpg) Simon Baker — Image via TMDB - ![Jacob Junior Nayinggul, Simon Baker and Witiyana Marika presenting the movie High Ground at the Berlinale 2020](https://film.one/media/person/22554/gallery-1d13ce5673c8.jpg) Jacob Junior Nayinggul, Simon Baker and Witiyana Marika presenting the movie High Ground at the Berlinale 2020 — Martin Kraft, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/MJK_69603_Jacob_Junior_Nayinggul%2C_Simon_Baker_and_Witiyana_Marika_%28High_Ground%2C_Berlinale_2020%29.jpg/1280px-MJK_69603_Jacob_Junior_Nayinggul%2C_Simon_Baker_and_Witiyana_Marika_%28High_Ground%2C_Berlinale_2020%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Simon Baker presenting the movie High Ground at the Berlinale 2020](https://film.one/media/person/22554/gallery-c944411392e9.jpg) Simon Baker presenting the movie High Ground at the Berlinale 2020 — Martin Kraft, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/MJK_69631_Simon_Baker_%28High_Ground%2C_Berlinale_2020%29.jpg/1280px-MJK_69631_Simon_Baker_%28High_Ground%2C_Berlinale_2020%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Simon Baker](https://film.one/media/person/22554/gallery-edba0d32fd8e.jpg) Simon Baker — Image via TMDB - ![Simon Baker](https://film.one/media/person/22554/gallery-3f36ae7f1927.jpg) Simon Baker — Image via TMDB - ![Simon Baker](https://film.one/media/person/22554/gallery-19550e8a1a57.jpg) Simon Baker — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Other awards — 1 won - star on Hollywood Walk of Fame 2013: star on Hollywood Walk of Fame (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/simon-baker