Baz Luhrmann

Baz Luhrmann—born Mark Anthony Luhrmann on 17 September 1962, and known professionally as Bazmark Anthony "Baz" Luhrmann—is an Australian filmmaker, producer, writer, and actor. His work spans film, television, theatre, music, and the recording industry. Some critics consider him a modern auteur because of his hands-on role in writing, directing, design, and music across his projects. In Australia, he holds the title of the most commercially successful native director, with four of his films ranking among the top ten highest-grossing Australian films worldwide.

Luhrmann is most famous on screen for his Red Curtain Trilogy: the romantic comedy *Strictly Ballroom* (1992), followed by the romantic tragedies *William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet* (1996) and *Moulin Rouge!* (2001). After the trilogy, he directed *Australia* (2008), *The Great Gatsby* (2013), *Elvis* (2022), and the Netflix television period drama *The Get Down* (2016). His stage work includes productions of Puccini's *La bohème* for Opera Australia and Broadway, as well as *Strictly Ballroom the Musical* (2014). In September 2025, his first documentary, *EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert*, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Luhrmann is also known for his Grammy-nominated soundtracks for *Moulin Rouge!* and *The Great Gatsby*, and for his record label House of Iona, a co-venture with RCA Records. He produces all his musical soundtracks and holds writing credits on many tracks. His album *Something for Everybody* compiles music from his films and includes his hit "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)."

Born Mark Anthony Luhrmann in Sydney, New South Wales, on 17 September 1962, he is the son of Barbara Carmel (née Brennan), a ballroom dance teacher and dress shop owner, and Leonard Luhrmann, who ran a petrol station and a cinema. He grew up in Herons Creek, a small rural settlement in mid-northern New South Wales. He attended St Joseph's Hastings Regional School in Port Macquarie (1975–1978), St Paul's Catholic College (where he performed in a school production of Shakespeare's *Henry IV, Part 1*), and Narrabeen Sports High School, where he met future collaborator Craig Pearce. The nickname "Baz" came from his hairstyle, inspired by the puppet character Basil Brush. While still in high school, he legally changed his name by deed poll to Bazmark, combining his nickname and birth name. After graduating in 1980, he was cast opposite Judy Davis in the Australian film *Winter of Our Dreams*. In 1982, using earnings from film and television work, he co-founded The Bond Theatre Company with Nell Schofield, Gabrielle Mason, and Julia Little—after all four had been rejected by NIDA. In March of that year, the company performed *American Days* at the Bondi Beach pavilion. Around the same time, he conceived and appeared in the controversial television documentary *Kids of the Cross*, living with a group of street kids as an embedded character. He enrolled in an acting course at the National Institute of Dramatic Art in 1983 and graduated in 1985 alongside Sonia Todd, Catherine McClements, and Justin Monjo.

He married Catherine Martin, a production designer, costume designer, and film producer, on 26 January 1997; the couple have two children. When asked about his sexuality, Luhrmann has said he sees all sexual possibilities. He supports the Melbourne Demons in the Australian Football League.

After theatrical successes, including the short play *Strictly Ballroom* at the Wharf Theatre, Luhrmann moved into film, making his directorial debut with the 1992 film version of *Strictly Ballroom*. His modern film interpretation *Romeo + Juliet* (1996), starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes, beat *Titanic* at the BAFTAs for best direction, music, and screenplay. It was celebrated at the Berlin Film Festival, winning the Golden Bear for direction and a Silver Bear for DiCaprio's performance. Luhrmann produced both volumes of the soundtrack album, which went triple-platinum.

His Academy Award-winning musical *Moulin Rouge!* (2001), set in Montmartre at the dawn of the 20th century, follows English poet Christian (Ewan McGregor) falling in love with cabaret actress and courtesan Satine (Nicole Kidman). Musical directors Robert Wise and Stanley Donen praised it for reinventing the modern musical by blending decades of popular music in remixes and mash-ups. The AFI named it one of the top ten films of 2001, and in 2010 it was voted the top film of the 2000s in a UK poll of 150,000 respondents. At the 59th Golden Globes, it won Best Motion Picture, Best Actress, and Best Original Score. The soundtrack, produced by Luhrmann, sold over seven million copies, went double-platinum, and featured the Grammy-winning number-one single "Lady Marmalade."

Luhrmann's 2008 historical epic *Australia* starred Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, and David Gulpilil. Set just before World War II, it blends a nostalgic romance with major Australian historical events, including the Bombing of Darwin and the Stolen Generations—the forced removal of mixed-race Aboriginal children from their families. The film's racial politics were controversial at the time.