Simon Lucas Baker started his screen-career with an appearance in Australian TV-movie ‘Shades of Love: Midnight Magic’ (1988). He got a break as ‘Constable Sam Farrell’ in the award-winning soap-opera ‘E Street’ (1992-1993), which won him ‘Logie Award for Most Popular New Talent.’ He then featured in TV-shows ‘Home and Away’ (1993-1994), and ‘Heartbreak High’ (1996).
After moving to Hollywood, Baker gained notice as ‘aspiring actor Matt Reynolds’ in the neo-noir crime-film ‘L.A. Confidential’ (1997). Next, he appeared in the action-thriller ‘Most Wanted’ (1997), the indie-film ‘Restaurant,’ and the crime-thriller ‘Judas Kiss’ (1998). He was the lead in the road-film ‘Love from Ground Zero’ (1998), before playing supporting roles in Ang Lee’s ‘Ride with the Devil’ (1999) and the box-office disappointment sci-fi action-film ‘Red Planet’ (2000).
In 2001, Baker was cast in the main role as ‘Nick Fallin’ in the hit legal-drama series ‘The Guardian’ (2001-2004), earning Golden Globe nomination and other accolades. Some of his other films like the historical-drama film ‘The Affair of the Necklace’ (2001), and the supernatural-horror film ‘The Ring Two’ (2005) did not fare well, while his supporting roles in the 2006 romantic-comedy ‘Something New’ and the comedy-drama ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ garnered praise.
Baker’s subsequent films include ‘Book of Love (2004), the dark-comedy ‘Sex and Death 101’ (2007), the mystery-thriller ‘The Lodger’ (2009), and the thriller ‘Not Forgotten’ (2009). He starred as former-psychic ‘Patrick Jane’ in the successful drama-series ‘The Mentalist’ (2008-2015) earning several nominations. The financial-thriller film ‘Margin Call’ (2011) also received nominations for ensemble cast.
Baker co-wrote, co-produced, starred and made directorial debut with the sports-drama film ‘Breath’ (2017) adapted from the novel by Tim Winton. It won him honors. His recent films are the romantic-drama ‘Here and Now’ (2018), and the Australian movie ‘High Ground’ (2020).