Adjudicator at AFIN

Biography

Before entering acting, Bruce led a life far removed from the limelight. He worked as a crayfisherman like his father and later trained as a physical-education teacher. In his early twenties, he discovered a passion for contemporary dance, a path that led him to a professional dance career spanning several years in both New Zealand and Australia. By the mid-1980s, Hopkins transitioned into acting. Over decades he built a diverse career in theatre, film, television, voice-acting, and radio.

Bruce is perhaps best known for his role as Gamling, a loyal warrior in the armies of Rohan, in the cinematic adaptations of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) directed by Peter Jackson. He worked on popular shows such as Xena Warrior Princess and Hercules, and contributed his voice to the character "Choobo" in Power Rangers Ninja Storm.

Bruce continues to be active both in the arts and in charitable and community endeavours.