Zen Ledden
- Actor
Australian actor Zen Ledden was born in Adelaide, South Australia. Before becoming an actor, he had considered being an archaeologist and marine biologist.
Zen attended Glenunga International High School where his interest in theatre grew, playing Peppino Priore in Eduardo De Fillipo's Saturday, Sunday, Monday. After finishing his SACE with high marks in drama, he auditioned for The Centre for Performing Arts (now Adelaide College of The Arts) and was enrolled in the acting class of 1999.
After a full year of studies, it was a suggestion from his friend and mentor, the great Australian Shakespearean actor, Bille Brown (1952-2013) to attend Zen Zen Zo's Japanese physical theatre intensive over the summer of 2000 in Brisbane. On his return to Adelaide he left his acting studies after being asked to join The Yashchin Ensemble where he worked with Israeli director and actor Netta Yashchin, touring the production Mnemosyne to the Melbourne Fringe Festival.
Moving to Melbourne he worked in regular play readings of new works for Melbourne Writers Theatre at The Carlton Courthouse and with The Australian Shakespeare Company playing Planchet in The Three Musketeers (2003). He got his break in television on Stingers (2004) and started appearing regularly in other guest roles. He performed with Magnormos Oz Made Musicals in Dutch Courage, a story of LGBTQ resistance during Nazi occupation of Germany (2004) and A Bunch of Ratbags (production and cast recording 2005). He landed a guest role playing Kevin Casey on Neighbours (2007) opposite Nikki Whelan and Rowena Wallace.
Returning to Adelaide to shoot on McLeod's Daughters (2007) he re-established a connection with his hometown. Married to Italian radio producer Stefano Pratola in 2018 he is based between NSW and SA.
Zen attended Glenunga International High School where his interest in theatre grew, playing Peppino Priore in Eduardo De Fillipo's Saturday, Sunday, Monday. After finishing his SACE with high marks in drama, he auditioned for The Centre for Performing Arts (now Adelaide College of The Arts) and was enrolled in the acting class of 1999.
After a full year of studies, it was a suggestion from his friend and mentor, the great Australian Shakespearean actor, Bille Brown (1952-2013) to attend Zen Zen Zo's Japanese physical theatre intensive over the summer of 2000 in Brisbane. On his return to Adelaide he left his acting studies after being asked to join The Yashchin Ensemble where he worked with Israeli director and actor Netta Yashchin, touring the production Mnemosyne to the Melbourne Fringe Festival.
Moving to Melbourne he worked in regular play readings of new works for Melbourne Writers Theatre at The Carlton Courthouse and with The Australian Shakespeare Company playing Planchet in The Three Musketeers (2003). He got his break in television on Stingers (2004) and started appearing regularly in other guest roles. He performed with Magnormos Oz Made Musicals in Dutch Courage, a story of LGBTQ resistance during Nazi occupation of Germany (2004) and A Bunch of Ratbags (production and cast recording 2005). He landed a guest role playing Kevin Casey on Neighbours (2007) opposite Nikki Whelan and Rowena Wallace.
Returning to Adelaide to shoot on McLeod's Daughters (2007) he re-established a connection with his hometown. Married to Italian radio producer Stefano Pratola in 2018 he is based between NSW and SA.