Dustin Clare

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Dustin Clare – Life, Career, and Memorable Quotes

Dustin Clare (born January 2, 1982) is an award-winning Australian actor best known for his roles in Spartacus and McLeod’s Daughters. Explore his early life, breakthrough roles, quotes, and impact on screen acting.

Introduction

Dustin Clare (born 2 January 1982) is an Australian actor whose rugged presence, physical skill, and versatility have made him a favorite in both homegrown Australian drama and international genre television. From the rural landscapes of McLeod’s Daughters to the visceral arenas of Spartacus, he has built a career that bridges soap operas, action-drama, and genre storytelling. His path illustrates how determination, training, and willingness to take risks can lead to memorable characters and lasting recognition.

Early Life and Background

Dustin Clare was born in Grafton, New South Wales, Australia, and grew up between Ballina and Maclean in northern NSW.
As a youth, he nurtured diverse interests—at one point he considered becoming an agriculturist or fish farmer, and even toyed with surfboard building.
Clare pursued formal acting training and graduated from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) in 2004.

Career and Achievements

Early Career & Australian Television

After WAAPA, Dustin Clare began with guest roles in Australian TV series such as All Saints and HeadLand.
His breakthrough came when he secured a regular role as Riley Ward on the popular series McLeod’s Daughters (2006–2007). This role brought him widespread recognition and even a Logie Award for Most Popular New Male Talent.

He then appeared in other Australian dramas, such as Satisfaction, and took on a heavier role in Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities, portraying Christopher Dale Flannery.

International Success: Spartacus & Beyond

Clare’s international profile skyrocketed when he was cast as Gannicus, a gladiator champion, in Spartacus: Gods of the Arena (a prequel to Spartacus: Blood and Sand) and its subsequent installments Vengeance and War of the Damned.
His physicality, stunt work, and capacity to balance strength with vulnerability earned acclaim.

In parallel, Clare began appearing in film projects. His feature debut was The Eye of the Storm (2011). He later appeared in Goddess (2013), Sunday, and in the Hollywood action film Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018).

Other notable TV roles include:

• Lt. Harry Moffitt in ANZAC Girls, for which he won an Equity Ensemble Award.

• Appearances in Strike Back: Legacy, Wolf Creek, Tidelands, Doctor Doctor, and Glitch, among others.

Legacy and Influence

Though still active, Dustin Clare has already left a mark in several ways:

• Bridging Australian and international roles: He shows that Australian-trained actors can move fluidly between domestic dramas and large-scale international productions.

• Physical acting and stunts: His willingness to do rigging, fight choreography, and stunts elevates action roles with authenticity.

• Versatility across genre: From rural dramas to horror, war stories to sci-fi, he demonstrates adaptability.

• Inspiration for emerging actors: His path from regional Australia to global screens offers a motivator for those outside entertainment hubs.

Personality, Philosophy & Talents

Clare is outspoken about the blend between self and character:

“I think there’s always pieces of yourself that bleed into your character. That’s inevitable.”

He also speaks candidly on expectations of image in acting:

“I’m passionate about being an actor, but I’m definitely not passionate about being a sex symbol.”
“Often too many expectations are put on by society as to what we’re supposed to look like … it’s fed to people at an age that’s too young.”

In terms of lifestyle:

“When I’m not working, I weight train three times a week and swim and surf as much as I can – in the summer, you usually find me in the water.”

Clare also values pushing into new creative challenges:

“I’m singing and dancing and playing guitar. I really enjoy pushing myself into different aspects … If I’m fearful of something I definitely want to step into it.”

Famous Quotes by Dustin Clare

Below are selected quotes that capture Clare’s mindset:

1. “I think there’s always pieces of yourself that bleed into your character. That’s inevitable.”

2. “I’m passionate about being an actor, but I’m definitely not passionate about being a sex symbol.”

3. “Often too many expectations are put on by society … what we’re supposed to look like … it’s fed to people at an age that’s too young.”

4. “When I’m not working, I weight train three times a week and swim and surf as much as I can … you usually find me in the water.”

5. “I lead a very physical life. I played a lot of sports and I spent a lot of time in the water surfing, swimming.”

6. “Being the new guy’s always great … you bring new life … energy into something that’s already established.”

7. “The White Ribbon Foundation is an organization I support. They’re bringing awareness of violence against women … I think it’s important in our society.”

Lessons from Dustin Clare

1. Embrace multidimensional growth
   Clare’s willingness to challenge himself—through stunts, music, or new genres—shows that growth often lies outside comfort zones.

2. Train rigorously and take risks
   His formal education (WAAPA) plus readiness for demanding physical work underscores how craft and courage combine.

3. Stay authentic in portrayal
   By allowing life experiences to inform roles, he brings honesty and nuance to characters.

4. Refuse limiting typecasting
   Even as a physically strong actor, Clare rejects being reduced to just looks or action tropes.

5. Support social causes
   His advocacy (e.g. White Ribbon Foundation) demonstrates how public figures can use visibility for awareness.

Conclusion

Dustin Clare’s career is a compelling narrative of an Australian actor who used formal training, bold choices, and adaptability to reach international audiences. From McLeod’s Daughters to Spartacus, from drama to action, he demonstrates that talent aligned with persistence can transcend boundaries.