Trivia

- He chose “The Hulk” over several other Marvel Comics movie adaptations that were offered to him.

- His deal for “The Hulk” includes an option for two sequels, with substantial salary raises for each film.

- Two children with wife Rebecca, Klaus and Sophia.

- Is the second Australian actor to play a Marvel Comics superhero on the big screen (Hugh Jackman is the first).

- Hates guns.

- Admitted to eating junk food for four weeks to put on the extra weight needed to play Chopper (2000). He gained 30 pounds for the role.

- Gained almost 50 pounds for his role as the rotund, psychotic title character in “Chopper.”

- Underwent weight and fight-training for his role as Hector in “Troy.”

- Has said that Sam Elliott and Nick Nolte are two of his favorite actors, and got to work with both in The Hulk (2003).

- His first car was an old XB Coupe, purchased for $1000 when he was 15.

- He made his motorsport debut in 1996′s Targa Tasmania, driving that same 1974 Ford Falcon XB Coupe. Other competitions include the 2002 and 2003 Classic Adelaide.

- After wrapping up “The Hulk,” he spent nine months at home with his family.

- First jobs: Washing cars at a service station, pushing trolleys at Coles New World, barman at Melbourne’s Castle Hotel in 1991.

- Siblings: Anthony (brother, banker) is three years older.

- In an ironic twist, Mark Brandon Read, who was portrayed by Bana in the movie Chopper (2000), has a small role in the film Trojan Warrior (2003); which he plays a guy named “Erik Bana”. This is not to be confused with Troy (2004) which also stars Bana and features a Trojan horse.

- He loves racing both bikes and cars in Australia.

- He had never ridden a horse before ‘Troy’, and had to start from scratch without a saddle.

- Two of his characters previously appeared in television movies starring John Rhys-Davies before Bana came into the roles. Rhys-Davies played Wilson Fisk, A.K.A. The Kingpin, in The Trial of the Incredible Hulk, which starred Bill Bixby as Dr. Banner, a role later played by Bana. Rhys-Davies also played King Priam in the television film Helen of Troy. Priam is the father of Hector, played by Bana in the film Troy.

- Has two children, Klaus (b. August 1999) and Sophia (b. April 2002).

- Tall by almost any standards at 6’3″, he is actually medium-sized or small by his family’s standards. For instance, his brother stands 6’8″.

- Prior to Troy (2004), Bana had worked with Orlando Bloom in Black Hawk Down (2001).

- Had the option of playing several different characters in Troy (2004) when he was approached for the project. He chose Hector because he thought Hector “was such a great bloke.”

- Brad Pitt personally requested Bana as a co-star for ‘Troy’ (2004) because he was a huge fan of ‘Chopper’.

- Father-in-law is High Court Chief Justice Murray Gleeson.

- First car was an old 1974 Ford Falcom XB Coupe, purchased for $1000 at age 15.

- First job was washing cars at a service station.

- Supports St. Kilda Australian rules football team.

- A picture of his wife and child was used in Black Hawk Down (2001) for the scene where helicopter pilot Mike Durant is captured by Somalis. The prop department had forgotten to grab a picture of a wife and child for the shot, so they asked Bana’s wife, who was traveling with him, if they could use a picture of her and their child for the shot and she agreed.

- Was the first choice to play Xander Cage in xXx (2002), but turned it down to do The Nugget (2002).