Austrian—oops, sorry, Australian—actor Felix Mallard has taken a surprising journey from surfboards and school fences to Netflix sets and biographical dramas. (Small slip there—his fencing, not surfing—got his competitive start at age ten, competing at state and national levels in sabre events.) But the way he’s leapt into emotionally complex roles today…well, there’s something humanly unpredictable about his trajectory that keeps people talking.
Early Origins and Artistic Foundations
Mallard was born on April 20, 1998, in Melbourne, Australia, and entered the spotlight when he was scouted at around 13 for modeling with Vivien’s Models. He then made his unexpected acting debut in Neighbours at 15, playing Ben Kirk · evolving from a short guest appearance into a main cast role over several years. That stint—really, hundreds of episodes—became his informal school of acting and authenticity. The character’s musicality dovetailed with Mallard’s real-life music talents—guitar, piano, drums, even a stint in a punk band called Enemies Alike.
Transition to U.S. Screens and Early Roles
Moving to the U.S. around 2018 was a bold bet. But he landed the role of Cooper James in CBS’s Happy Together—a sitcom loosely inspired by Harry Styles’s real-life arrangement living with producer Ben Winston. Intriguingly, Styles personally encouraged Mallard to take the role. Though it lasted only a single season, it served as a valuable springboard.
In the following years, Mallard embraced diverse genres: he appeared in the supernatural thriller Locke & Key on Netflix as Lucas Caravaggio, shifted tonality to the romantic drama All the Bright Places, and displayed his musical chops again in Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist.
Breakthrough with Ginny & Georgia
Then came Ginny & Georgia in 2021, where Mallard portrays Marcus Baker, a layered teen grappling with emotional challenges. His performance required learning American Sign Language—authenticity wasn’t optional. The series became a major hit: over 50 million viewers tuned in for Season 1 within a month, and by mid‑2023, the show had nearly a billion hours of viewing time, prompting renewals up to Season 4.
“As an actor, that’s exactly what you want—for your characters to go through high highs and low lows,” Mallard shared.
Season 3, released June 5, 2025, deepened Marcus’s arc with explorations of depression, relapse, and teen romance.
Feature Films: Turtles All the Way Down
Mallard’s film work includes Turtles All the Way Down, released in 2024, where he plays Davis, a wealthy teen dealing with complex grief. The role required emotional nuance, mirroring the film’s themes of mental illness and romantic tension. A first trailer dropped in April 2024, and the movie began streaming on Max in May.
Upcoming: Goolagong and Beyond
Looking ahead, Mallard was cast as Roger Cawley in the Australian miniseries Goolagong, a biographical drama about tennis legend Evonne Goolagong. The series premiered January 4, 2026, on ABC TV and ABC iview. Mallard called the project “transformative,” especially given its cultural significance and the involvement of Goolagong herself.
Summary Table of Key Roles
- Neighbours (2014–2019): Ben Kirk – formative, music-infused role
- Happy Together (2018–2019): Cooper James – comedic U.S. debut with celebrity backing
- Locke & Key (2020–2021): Lucas Caravaggio – supernatural edge
- All the Bright Places (2020): Roamer – romantic drama
- Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist (2021): Aiden – musical expression
- Ginny & Georgia (2021–present): Marcus Baker – breakout, emotionally intense role
- Turtles All the Way Down (2024): Davis – complex character dealing with mental health
- Goolagong (2026): Roger Cawley – cultural biopic, heartfelt performance
Why It Matters: The Actor Behind the Roles
Mallard’s appeal lies in diversity—both in genre and emotional depth. He doesn’t shy from challenge, be it ASL, mental health portrayals, or cultural storytelling. His foundation in music and modeling rounds out a multi-dimensional performer. Across these projects, he’s built trust with audiences by consistently choosing roles that feel meaningful and grounded.
Concluding Thoughts
Felix Mallard’s path—from a teen in Melbourne’s beloved soap Neighbours to emotionally nuanced roles on global platforms—reflects both ambition and authenticity. He surprises us by weaving vulnerability into each character, choosing stories that resonate culturally, or socially, while still showing that versatility counts. Whether portraying an anguished billionaire teen, a troubled high school boyfriend, or a historical figure’s husband, he earns our belief. Expect more thoughtful, unpredictable performances from him—he’s just getting started, really.
FAQs
Who is Felix Mallard and where did he start his career?
Felix Mallard is an Australian actor born in 1998 in Melbourne. He began his career as Ben Kirk on the soap Neighbours, gaining both experience and visibility in that foundational role.
What are his most notable roles in TV series?
He’s best known for Ginny & Georgia as Marcus Baker, Locke & Key as Lucas Caravaggio, and Happy Together as Cooper James—each showcasing a different genre and emotional range.
Has Felix Mallard appeared in feature films?
Yes—most notably in Turtles All the Way Down (2024), where he portrayed Davis, a wealthy teen navigating grief and emotional vulnerability in a YA adaptation.
What is Goolagong and what’s his role in it?
Goolagong is a 2026 Australian miniseries about Indigenous tennis legend Evonne Goolagong. Mallard plays Roger Cawley, her husband, in a project hailed as culturally important and transformative for him.
Does Mallard have musical or other talents beyond acting?
Indeed—he’s musically inclined, playing guitar, piano, and drums. He was part of a punk band and even incorporates music into some of his early roles. He’s also modeled and remains engaged in creative and introspective pursuits.
What sets him apart as an actor?
Mallard stands out for his willingness to embrace emotionally complex roles across mediums—from soap operas and sitcoms to psychologically nuanced dramas and biopics. His authenticity, combined with diversity in choice, paints him as a thoughtful, modern actor making deliberate career moves.
