Ryan Corr (born 15 January 1989 in Melbourne, Australia) is an award-winning Australian actor best known for his versatility across film and television. A graduate of NIDA, he rose to prominence with Packed to the Rafters (2009–2013) and earned critical acclaim for his performances in Holding the Man (2015, dir. Neil Armfield), Hacksaw Ridge (2016, dir. Mel Gibson), and The Water Diviner (2014, opposite Russell Crowe).
From romantic dramas to war epics and thrillers, Corr has collaborated with some of Australia’s leading directors and consistently showcased a remarkable range. Here are nine of his most memorable performances — proof that he’s one of Australia’s most quietly compelling actors.
9 Standout Ryan Corr Performances, Ranked
1. Wolf Creek 2 (2013)
- Ryan’s role: Paul Hammersmith
- Synopsis: In this brutal Aussie horror sequel, the outback becomes a terrifying playground. A young German couple and British tourist Paul (Corr) find themselves picked off one by one by the psychotic back-woods killer Mick Taylor. Chaos, torture chambers, kangaroos used as collateral damage—it’s all very “Don’t go off the beaten path.”
- IMDB: 6.2/10
- For the fans: Ryan won the Best Acting Award at Madrid’s Nocturna festival for this role.
2. The Water Diviner (2014)
- Ryan’s role: Arthur Connor
- Synopsis: Directed by and starring Russell Crowe, this World War I era period drama follows Australian farmer Joshua Connor, who travels to Turkey after the battle at Gallipoli to locate his three missing sons. Ryan plays his son Arthur, one of the presumed-dead among them. Emotional, lush, and soaked in loss and landscape.
- IMDB: 7/10
- For the fan: Ryan plays one of the lost sons, so his screen time is small, but crucial for the emotional stakes.
3. House of the Dragon (2022– )
- Ryan’s role: Ser Harwin “Breakbones” Strong
- Synopsis: In HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel, Corr plays Ser Harwin Strong — Commander of the City Watch and rumored lover of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. Though his arc is brief, it’s pivotal to one of the show’s biggest scandals and bloodlines.
- IMDb: 8.5/10
- For the fan: Corr’s casting marked his first major international TV role, introducing him to a global audience and solidifying his crossover from Australian cinema to Hollywood prestige television.
4. Holding the Man (2015)
- Ryan’s role: Timothy Conigrave
- Synopsis: Based on the 1995 memoir by Conigrave, this moving Aussie drama charts his real-life 15-year love affair with John Caleo (played by Craig Stott), beginning at an all-boys Catholic school in the 1970s, and moving through the heartbreak of AIDS in the ’90s. Tender, brave, bittersweet.
- IMDB: 7.4/10
- For the fan: Ryan and Craig’s chemistry was widely praised—the Guardian noted both give “memorable performances … tender and strong.” (The Guardian)
5. Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
- Ryan’s role: Lt. Manville
- Synopsis: A major Hollywood war film (directed by Mel Gibson) about the true story of medic Desmond Doss, who refused to carry a weapon in WWII and became a Medal of Honor recipient. Ryan plays one of the lieutenant officers—a smaller role, but in a big-budget epic.
- IMDB: 8.1/10
- For the fan: Getting cast in a major Hollywood director’s film gave Ryan exposure beyond Aussie cinema.
6. Ladies in Black (2018)
- Ryan’s role: Rudi
- Synopsis of the movie: A charming period drama set in 1950s Sydney, based on the novel by Madeleine St John. The story centres on women working in a fashion department store and how their lives change in the post-war era. Ryan plays Rudi, the young immigrant struggling with identity and hope.
- IMDB: 6.8/10
- For the fan: Ryan’s performance earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the 2019 Australian Film Critics Awards.
7. High Ground (2020)
- Ryan’s role: Braddock
- Synopsis of the movie: A gripping “Australian Western” set in Arnhem Land after WWI. Ryan plays Braddock, part of a narrative about colonial conflict, indigenous justice, and revenge in the rugged outback. Raw, landscape-heavy, and culturally important.
- IMDB: 6.5/10
- For the fan: Shot entirely on location in Australia’s Northern Territory, Ryan signed up for the elements and history, not just the camera time.
8. Ali’s Wedding (2016)
- Ryan’s role: Wazza
- Synopsis of the movie: A rom-com with bite: Australian-Pakistani Ali falls for his best friend and has to navigate family expectations, religion, identity, and love. Ryan plays Wazza, one of his mates, giving levity and grounded friendship in the mix.
- IMDB: 6.9/10
- For the fan: Ryan showed his comedic chops here—something less obvious from his darker/international roles.
9. Below (2019)
- Ryan’s role: Dougie
- Synopsis of the movie: A psychological thriller about a young specialist diver who arrives at a top-secret submarine testing site and starts uncovering disturbing secrets. Ryan plays Dougie, part of the team whose facades gradually implode.
- IMDB: 5/10
- For the fan: Here, Ryan embraces the thriller/horror edge again—something he first showed in Wolf Creek 2—and shows versatility.
Quick Scan Table: Ryan Corr – 9 Key Roles (with U.S. Streaming Availability)
| Title (Year) | Ryan’s Role | Synopsis (Concise) | IMDb | Streaming (U.S.) | For the Fan |
| Wolf Creek 2 (2013) | Paul Hammersmith | Backpacker hunted by outback serial killer Mick Taylor in a brutal survival horror sequel. | 6.2 | Tubi (Free) • Freevee (Free) | Corr won Best Actor at Madrid’s Nocturna Film Festival. |
| The Water Diviner (2014) | Arthur Connor | WWI father searching for his missing sons in Turkey; an emotional historical drama. | 7.0 | Prime Video (Included) • Apple / YouTube (Rent/Buy) | Small role, but emotionally pivotal to the story. |
| House of the Dragon (2022– ) | Ser Harwin “Breakbones” Strong | Commander of the City Watch + central figure in Rhaenyra’s scandal & lineage. | 8.5 | Max (HBO) | Corr’s major international breakout role. |
| Holding the Man (2015) | Timothy Conigrave | Heart-rending true romance spanning schooldays to the AIDS crisis; deeply emotional. | 7.4 | Tubi (Free) • The Roku Channel (Free) | Performance praised as “tender and strong” (The Guardian). |
| Hacksaw Ridge (2016) | Lt. Manville | Supporting role in Oscar-winning WWII film about pacifist medic Desmond Doss. | 8.1 | Netflix (U.S.) | Put Corr in front of a global Hollywood audience. |
| Ladies in Black (2018) | Rudi | Charming 1950s Sydney coming-of-age story set in a department store; warm, elegant tone. | 6.8 | Starz • DirecTV • Apple / Prime (Rent/Buy) | Nominated for Best Supporting Actor (Aus. Film Critics). |
| High Ground (2020) | Braddock | Tense outback “Australian Western” confronting colonial violence in Arnhem Land. | 6.5 | Hulu | Filmed entirely on location; culturally significant cinema. |
| Ali’s Wedding (2016) | Wazza | Muslim-Australian rom-com balancing love, identity, and family expectations. | 6.9 | Netflix (U.S.) | Shows Corr’s comedic warmth and softness. |
| Below (2019) | Dougie | Psychological thriller set in an isolated diving/testing facility; paranoia builds. | 5.0 | Rent/Buy Only (Apple / Prime / Vudu) | Returns to the dark, intense thriller tone after Wolf Creek 2. |
Why these nine?
From horror to historical drama, comedies to psychological thrillers, these roles span the wide spectrum of Ryan Corr’s range. They show him moving from supporting turns in major productions to emotionally complex leads in films deeply rooted in Australian identity. A graduate of NIDA and a familiar face to Australian TV audiences from Packed to the Rafters, Love Child, and Bloom, Corr has steadily built a reputation for tackling heavy themes and heritage-driven narratives with rare authenticity.
Off-screen, he’s developed a loyal fanbase — with over 100k Instagram followers — reflecting his growing international recognition after appearances in House of the Dragon and acclaimed films like Holding the Man and Hacksaw Ridge (2016). Along the way, he’s earned nominations from the AACTA Awards and the Australian Film Critics Circle, cementing his reputation as one of Australia’s most versatile and quietly powerful performers.
Bonus Facts You’ll Want:
- Born 15 January 1989 in Melbourne, Australia.
- Graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA).
- Known for major TV roles in Packed to the Rafters, Love Child, and Bloom.
- Has over 100k followers on Instagram, reflecting his growing international reach.
- Received AACTA and Australian Film Critics Circle nominations for Holding the Man (2015).
- Balances serious, dramatic roles (Holding the Man, Little Death) with lighter or big-studio fare (Ali’s Wedding, Hacksaw Ridge).
The Through-Line: From Heartthrob to Heavyweight
What’s fascinating about Ryan Corr’s career is how deliberately unglamorous it is. While many TV-to-film transitions hinge on franchise fame, Corr chose complexity over comfort. Holding the Man required vulnerability that few actors would dare. High Ground forced him to confront national trauma. Wolf Creek 2 nearly broke his body, and Ali’s Wedding let him flex comedic timing that most didn’t know he had.
He’s part of a new-wave Australian generation that includes Jacob Elordi, Angourie Rice, and Eliza Scanlen — actors blurring the line between homegrown authenticity and global reach. Corr doesn’t have Marvel money (yet), but he’s got artistic mileage — and every new project feels like a reinvention.
Upcoming and Beyond
Ryan’s recent work includes House of the Dragon (2022), where he played Ser Harwin Strong — yes, that’s right, Westeros got its first Aussie knight. The internet collectively swooned, and suddenly, Hollywood remembered what Australia already knew: the man can act.
Whether he’s riding dragons or surviving Mick Taylor’s outback horror, Corr’s presence is magnetic — never too loud, never too pretty, always grounded in something real. If Hollywood loves a “next big thing,” Ryan Corr might just be the next quiet one who lasts.
Final Takeaway
Ryan Corr is that rare actor who can headline an LGBTQ+ love story, hold his own in a war film, and still play the funny best friend without missing a beat. His career reads like a masterclass in balance — between mainstream and meaningful, laughter and loss.
And if there’s one thing his filmography proves, it’s that he’s not done surprising us. Whether he’s on a dragon, in a trench, or running from a serial killer in the outback, Ryan Corr makes you feel — and that’s the mark of a star built to last.
