Australian actor and director Simon Baker has entered a guilty plea for drink driving at a New South Wales (NSW) court. The charge stems from an incident where Baker was found intoxicated while driving near his home in Byron Bay in the early hours of July 20.
Although Baker was not required to attend Mullumbimby Court House on Wednesday, court records confirm that the 55-year-old actor admitted to a single count of driving under the influence of alcohol. This marks his first offence of this nature.
Baker, renowned for his roles in Home and Away, The Devil Wears Prada, and the acclaimed US crime drama series The Mentalist, has a distinguished career in both Australian and American entertainment. He grew up in northern NSW and began his acting career on classic Australian shows such as Heartbreak High and A Country Practice. In 1993, he won the Best New Talent award at the Logies, Australia’s premier television awards.
Following his success in Australia, Baker moved to the United States, where he earned recognition for his role in the Academy Award-winning film L.A. Confidential. After two decades in Hollywood, where he was honored with a star on the Walk of Fame, Baker returned to Australia. He has since expanded his career to include directing, alongside acting.
Recently, Baker received a nomination for Best Lead Actor at the Logies for his performance in the hit Netflix series Boy Swallows Universe. He is scheduled to return to Mullumbimby Court House on September 11 for sentencing.
