Angus McLaren, born on November 3, 1988, in Wonthaggi, Victoria, Australia, is a well-known Australian actor recognized for his performances in television and film.
Raised on a dairy farm near Loch, Victoria, with deep familial ties to his Scottish heritage, McLaren developed an early passion for the performing arts.
His professional acting career began at the remarkably young age of 12, and he has since become a familiar face in Australian entertainment, particularly for his roles in popular series such as H2O: Just Add Water and Packed to the Rafters.
Beyond acting, McLaren has showcased his musical talents as a drummer and bassist in various bands, adding another dimension to his creative profile.
Siblings
Angus is the youngest of three brothers, growing up alongside his siblings Rhett McLaren and Aidan McLaren on their family’s dairy farm.
While Angus has carved out a public persona through his acting career, information about Rhett and Aidan remains scarce.
Career
McLaren’s journey in the entertainment industry began with his professional debut at age 12, landing a recurring role as Jason Cassidy in the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) series Something in the Air (2000–2002).
His early work included appearances in children’s television shows such as Worst Best Friends, The Saddle Club, and Fergus McPhail, as well as guest roles in popular series like Blue Heelers, Comedy Inc., and Neighbours.
In 2004, McLaren secured his first major role as Degenhardt Bell in the children’s sci-fi series Silversun, which aired on both the Seven Network and ABC.
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His feature film debut came in 2005 with the low-budget Melbourne production Court of Lonely Royals.
McLaren’s breakthrough came in 2006 when he was cast as Lewis McCartney in the internationally successful children’s series H2O: Just Add Water, appearing in 66 episodes across the first three seasons until mid-season three.
This role cemented his status as a household name in Australia and gained him a global fanbase.
In 2008, he joined the cast of the comedy-drama series Packed to the Rafters as Nathan Rafter, a role he played across 102 episodes over six seasons, further solidifying his reputation as a versatile actor.
Between 2013 and 2014, McLaren honed his craft through master classes in New York, Los Angeles, Sydney, and Melbourne, and pursued a Bachelor of Acting at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA).
During his time at WAAPA, he performed in eight stage productions, including notable roles as The Marquis De Sade in Marat/Sade and the title character in Shakespeare’s Coriolanus.
More recently, McLaren portrayed William “The Crimson Fiddler” Graham in the 2016 short film Quartermaine, and in 2018, he joined the long-running soap opera Home and Away as Lance Salisbury.
His film credits include roles in The Merger (2018), Hotel Mumbai (2018), and The Naked Wanderer (2019).
McLaren also reprised his role as Nathan Rafter in the 2021 spin-off series Back to the Rafters.
Beyond acting, he has contributed to the arts as a musician, playing drums for the band Rapids (formerly Ballet Imperial) and bass guitar for Bogey Lowensteins, and has established himself in the voiceover circuit for advertisements.
Accolades
In 2016, McLaren’s performance in the short film Quartermaine earned him the Nine Network Channel 9 Best Actor Award at the WA Screen Academy Awards, highlighting his ability to deliver powerful performances in smaller-scale productions.
While H2O: Just Add Water and Packed to the Rafters were both award-winning series, McLaren’s individual contributions were instrumental to their success, though specific personal awards for these roles are not widely documented.
His work in theatre, particularly during his time at WAAPA, received critical praise, with his portrayal of Coriolanus earning rave reviews.
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