Bernard Curry has enjoyed a celebrated acting career since shooting onto Aussie TV screens back in the early ’90s when he landed the role of Luke Handley on Neighbours.
Since then, he’s gone on to achieve critical acclaim for his roles on Wentworth and Home and Away, but Bernard’s next gig on Big Brother VIP is bound to be his most talked about television stint of all.
The 47-year-old acclaimed actor has lived a colourful life, and quite literally ran away with the circus after meeting his wife Sonja over 15 years ago.
“At the time, Sonya was working as the venue and stage manager for The Famous Spiegeltent,” Bernard said in 2018.
“She said: ‘My life is nomadic and I’m living on the road. Do you want to come?’ So I ran away with the circus, which was quite a romantic thing to do.”
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The couple then spent the next two years travelling the world together with the circus.
Best known for his roles in Wentworth, Neighbours and Home and Away, Bernard will be heading into the Big Brother VIP house for his latest acting role.
(Image: Getty)It’s little shock that at the time Bernard briefly gave up his life in Australia for Sonja, with him previously admitting that he was captivated the second they met.
“it was 2005 and the Spiegeltent was erected on the forecourt of the Victorian Arts Centre,” he said.
“My brother Steve [Curry, also an actor/comedian] was doing a comedy show there with Jimeoin and I went along with another friend of ours, [actor] Sullivan Stapleton. I saw this girl – Sonya – by the door wearing a top hat with a funny little tutu and thought she was an absolute knockout.
“I was single and looking for love, but I couldn’t raise the courage to talk to her. I found myself back there another night and, on that particular occasion, I’d had a little bit of Dutch courage.”
Bernard married his wife Sonja in 2010.
(Image: Instagram)The pair then went on a date and it wasn’t long before they fell in love.
In May 2010, Bernard and Sonja welcomed their first son Fox into the world, exchanging vows eight months later in their “perfect wedding”.
“It was in the backyard of our family beach house in Rye [on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula] with about 140 guests and a jazz band. It was such a great day. Fox was our little ring-bearer,” Sonja said in 2018.
Today, Bernard, 44, and Sonya, 43, are doting parents to Fox, now 11, and their younger son, Banjo, nine.
“Since having kids, we’re even more of a united front. We’re best friends,” Sonja said.
Bernard’s younger brother Stephen Curry (right) is a well-known comedian and actor.
(Image: Getty)While there’s no doubt that Bernard is famous in his own right, the 47-year-old has some very well known family members behind him.
Bernard’s younger brother Stephen Curry, not to be confused with the NBA player of the same name, is a well-known comedian and actor who appeared in the iconic 1997 film The Castle alongside Michael Caton.
Stephen followed in his older brother’s footsteps and enjoyed a stint on Neighbours between 1993 and 1998. He most recently landed a role in the upcoming Paramount+ drama Spreadsheet.
Bernard has even credited Stephen for helping him land the role as Jake Stewart on prison drama Wentworth.
Bernard has played guard Jake Stewart on prison drama Wentworth since 2016.
(Image: Foxtel)He admitted he was sceptical about signing on to the series until a call to Stephen shifted his perspective.
“When I got the gig, I’d never watched the show,” Bernard has previously admitted.
“I called Steve and said, ‘What’s the story with Wentworth?’ He paused and said, ‘Look, I’ll tell you the truth: when I first heard they were doing a re-imagining of Prisoner [the iconic Australian series of 30 years ago], I was worried it would be a bit s–t and it would be really disappointing if they messed it up. But honestly, it’s so good. I can’t stop watching it’.”
Bernard heeded his brother’s advice, accepted the role, and hasn’t looked back.
Bernard’s eldest brother Andrew also has impressive acing chops, having starred as Larry “Woody” Woodhouse in Neighbours.
While Bernard has been on Aussie TV screens since the early ’90s, Big Brother VIP will be his foray into the world of reality television.
(Image: Getty)Many producer roles followed his stint on the soap, with 2017 marking the completion of his debut feature film, A Boy Called Sailboat, written and directed by long-time collaborator Cameron Nugent.
While Bernard has been on Aussie TV screens since the early ’90s, Big Brother VIP will be his foray into the world of reality television.
Also entering the house will be seasoned reality star Caitlyn Jenner, former MAFS bride Jessika Power, influencer Imogen Anthony, Survivor fan-favourite Luke Toki and US politician Omarosa Manigault Newman.
Joining them will be Meghan Markle’s estranged brother Thomas, NRL great Matt Cooper, model Josh Carroll, actress Ellie Gonsalves, AFL star Dayne Beams and popular former Big Brother contestant Danny Hayes.
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