Simon Baker’s Best Roles

Simon Baker is an Australian actor who has captivated audiences worldwide with his undeniable charm and screen presence. He began his career in Australian television, becoming a familiar face in various series before making the successful transition to Hollywood. While he worked steadily in film and television for years, it was his starring role as the brilliant Patrick Jane in the global hit series ‘The Mentalist’ that made him an international star.

Known for his ability to play intelligent, sophisticated, and often enigmatic characters, Baker has built a career that spans across different genres. He is equally comfortable as the lead in a major network drama, a supporting player in a critically acclaimed film, or the romantic interest in a lighthearted comedy. In recent years, he has also stepped behind the camera to direct, and he has increasingly focused on telling powerful, character-driven Australian stories.

‘L.A. Confidential’ (1997)

In the critically acclaimed neo-noir film ‘L.A. Confidential’, Baker has a small but significant role as Matt Reynolds. He plays a young and handsome actor who gets caught up in a high-end escort service that caters to the Hollywood elite. His character’s tragic fate becomes a key piece of the sprawling conspiracy that the film’s protagonists work to uncover.

Although his screen time is brief, appearing in this film was a major step in his early Hollywood career. It placed him in a prestigious, Oscar-winning production alongside a star-studded cast. The role, credited to his former name Simon Baker Denny, showcased his ability to make an impact even in a limited appearance.

‘Boy Swallows Universe’ (2024)

Baker plays Robert Bell in the limited series ‘Boy Swallows Universe’, based on the acclaimed Australian novel. Robert is the loving but deeply flawed and often absent father of the young protagonist, Eli Bell. He is a thoughtful man who struggles with severe alcoholism, which greatly impacts his family.

The series blends a gritty coming-of-age story with elements of magical realism. Baker’s portrayal of Robert is heartbreaking, capturing the inner torment of a man who loves his sons but is unable to overcome his own demons. His performance adds a layer of tragic depth to the powerful family drama at the heart of the story.

‘The Mentalist’ (2008–2015)

In his most iconic role, Baker stars as Patrick Jane in the hugely popular series ‘The Mentalist’. Patrick is a former television psychic whose wife and daughter were murdered by a notorious serial killer known as Red John. He uses his extraordinary skills of observation, deduction, and mental manipulation to work as a consultant for the California Bureau of Investigation, all while secretly hunting for his family’s killer.

The role was a perfect fit for Baker’s charismatic and clever on-screen persona. The show was a massive international success, running for seven seasons and making him a household name around the globe. For his performance as the charming and troubled consultant, he received Emmy and Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Actor.

‘Limbo’ (2023)

In the Australian noir film ‘Limbo’, Baker plays Travis Hurley, a jaded detective who travels to a small outback town to investigate a twenty-year-old cold case. The film follows him as he interviews the victim’s family and other locals, uncovering the deep scars the unresolved crime has left on the community.

Shot in stark black and white, the film is an atmospheric and character-driven mystery. Baker’s performance is quiet and internalized, portraying a man weighed down by his own past as he navigates the closed-off and sun-scorched town. His work in the film was met with widespread critical acclaim.

‘The Guardian’ (2001–2004)

Baker’s first leading role in a major American television series was as Nick Fallin in ‘The Guardian’. He plays a hotshot corporate lawyer in Pittsburgh who gets arrested for drug use. As part of his sentence, he is required to perform community service at a legal aid clinic for children, forcing him to confront a world far removed from his own.

The series ran for three seasons and established Baker as a compelling leading man for American audiences. His character’s journey from a selfish and cynical attorney to a dedicated advocate for children was the central focus of the show. The role allowed him to showcase his ability to portray complex character development over a long-form narrative.

‘Margin Call’ (2011)

In the tense financial thriller ‘Margin Call’, Baker plays Jared Cohen, a ruthless and powerful head of capital markets at a major investment bank. The film takes place over a 24-hour period at the beginning of the 2008 financial crisis, as the firm discovers it is on the verge of total collapse.

Jared Cohen is a key decision-maker in the room, focused solely on saving the firm at any cost, regardless of the ethical consequences. Baker portrays the character with a cold and calculating intensity. He is part of a stellar ensemble cast that includes Kevin Spacey, Jeremy Irons, and Stanley Tucci, in a film praised for its intelligent script.

‘The Devil Wears Prada’ (2006)

In the hit comedy-drama ‘The Devil Wears Prada’, Baker plays the charming and successful writer Christian Thompson. He meets the protagonist, Andy Sachs, at a party and becomes a potential romantic interest and a professional contact who can help her career. Christian represents the glamorous and seductive world that Andy finds herself drawn into.

His character serves as a tempting alternative to Andy’s supportive but unglamorous long-term boyfriend. Baker’s smooth and charismatic performance makes him a perfect fit for the role of a sophisticated man-about-town who is not quite what he seems. The film was a massive box office success and a cultural touchstone.

‘Breath’ (2017)

Baker made his feature film directorial debut with ‘Breath’, in which he also stars. Based on the acclaimed novel by Australian author Tim Winton, the film is a coming-of-age story about two teenage boys in the 1970s who are taken under the wing of an enigmatic older surfer named Sando.

Baker plays Sando, a thrill-seeking adventurer who pushes the two boys to take ever-greater risks in the ocean and in their lives. The role and the film explore themes of mentorship, masculinity, and the intoxicating dangers of adolescence. The movie received widespread critical acclaim in Australia and won multiple awards.

‘High Ground’ (2020)

In the Australian western ‘High Ground’, Baker plays Travis, a former World War I sniper working as a police officer in Northern Australia in the 1930s. After a police operation goes wrong and results in the massacre of an Indigenous tribe, Travis leaves the force in disgust. Years later, he is tasked with hunting down an Aboriginal warrior who is attacking new settlers.

The film is a revisionist western that confronts Australia’s violent colonial past. Baker’s character is a man caught between two worlds, seeking redemption for his part in a historical injustice. His performance captures the internal conflict of a good man operating within a brutal and flawed system.

‘Ride with the Devil’ (1999)

In this Civil War drama directed by Ang Lee, Baker plays George Clyde, a southern gentleman who joins a group of pro-Confederate guerilla fighters known as Bushwhackers. The film offers a unique perspective on the war, focusing on the complex loyalties and brutal realities of irregular warfare on the Missouri-Kansas border.

Baker portrays George with a sense of quiet dignity and conviction, even as the world around him descends into chaos and violence. He is part of a talented ensemble cast in a film that was praised by critics for its historical accuracy and thoughtful, character-driven approach to its subject matter.

‘Something New’ (2006)

Baker plays the romantic lead, Brian Kelly, in the film ‘Something New’. He is a free-spirited landscape architect who is hired by a successful and driven African American woman named Kenya McQueen. Despite their different backgrounds and initial friction, a romance blossoms between them.

The film was praised for being a smart and insightful romantic comedy that directly addressed the social and cultural issues surrounding interracial dating. Baker’s performance as the charming and supportive Brian was noted for its warmth and his excellent chemistry with his co-star, Sanaa Lathan.

‘Judas Kiss’ (1998)

In the neo-noir thriller ‘Judas Kiss’, Baker has a key role as Junior Armstrong. He is the cocky and charismatic partner of a tech genius who is murdered during a high-stakes kidnapping plot that goes horribly wrong. The film is filled with twists and turns as a pair of detectives try to unravel the complex crime.

This early role placed him in a stylish thriller alongside other prominent actors of the era, including Carla Gugino and Alan Rickman. He effectively portrays a fast-talking and confident young man who finds himself in a situation far beyond his control, showcasing his ability to handle snappy, noir-inflected dialogue.

‘Land of the Dead’ (2005)

In George A. Romero’s zombie epic ‘Land of the Dead’, Baker plays Riley Denbo. He is the principled commander of a heavily armored vehicle designed to venture into zombie-infested territories to scavenge for supplies. His character is disillusioned with the corrupt society the human survivors have built and dreams of escaping to the north.

As the film’s protagonist, Baker provides a moral center in a grim and violent world. He is a resourceful and capable leader who is forced to fight both the living dead and the greedy humans in power. The role allowed him to star in a film by a legendary horror director.

‘Book of Love’ (2004)

In the independent romantic drama ‘Book of Love’, Baker plays David Walker. The story centers on a lonely young man who forms a close bond and eventually a romantic relationship with a much older, isolated woman who works at the local snack shop. Their unconventional relationship raises eyebrows in their small town.

The film is a quiet and intimate character study that explores themes of loneliness and human connection. The role required a sensitive and understated performance from Baker as a young man who finds comfort and understanding in an unexpected place.

‘I Give It a Year’ (2013)

In the British comedy ‘I Give It a Year’, Baker has a supporting role as Guy Harrap. The film is an anti-romantic comedy that begins where most others end, with a couple getting married and quickly realizing they may not be right for each other. Baker plays a handsome and charming American client who works with the wife, played by Rose Byrne.

His character serves as the tempting alternative and romantic rival to the protagonist’s husband. Baker plays the role with his signature charm and wit, perfectly embodying the suave and successful man who seems like a much better match for the female lead.

Let us know which Simon Baker performance is your favorite in the comments section below.