From the rugby league pitch to the cinematic shadows of Ra's al Ghul
In short: Before he was portraying iconic villains on global television, Matt Nable was a professional rugby league player. His journey from the Winfield Cup Premiership to Hollywood screenwriting and acting is a remarkable study in reinvention and creative persistence.
Born on 8 March 1972, Matt Nable’s early life was shaped by movement, from the Northern Beaches of Sydney to Portsea, Victoria, and Albury. His family roots were deeply embedded in Australian sport; his father, David, served as a soldier and a trainer for the national rugby league team, while his brother, Adam, also pursued a professional playing career.
Nable’s athletic career saw him rise through the Manly-Warringah junior ranks, making five appearances under coach Graham Lowe during 1991 and 1992. He later played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in 1995 and competed in England for Carlisle and the London Broncos. Following his football career, Nable explored boxing, even competing for a state light-heavyweight amateur title, before transitioning into roles as a beer salesman and personal trainer.
A pivotal shift occurred when Nable moved into writing, encouraged by Booker Prize winner Thomas Keneally. In 2007, Nable co-raised $1.6 million to produce the rugby league drama The Final Winter, based on his own unpublished novel. While the film struggled at the box office, it launched a prolific acting career in international productions like Killer Elite and Riddick.
Nable gained significant recognition in the DC television universe, notably portraying the character Ra's al Ghul in the third season of The CW's Arrow. He stepped into the role after Liam Neeson was unable to reprise his film character for the series. His recent work includes roles in the crime drama Mr Inbetween and the Netflix series Apple Cider Vinegar.
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