Manu Bennett plays Crixus, the Champion of Capua in “Spartacus: Blood and Sand,” a Starz original action-adventure drama series, set in Ancient Rome’s brutal gladiator arena.

He says “Crixus' role is to lead Spartacus to an understanding of the gladiatorial world, but, in reverse, Spartacus is leading Crixus back to an understanding of life.”

Over the past four years Bennett has played action roles involving spectacular fights with the greatest modern-day gladiators from the popular WWE wrestling arena: John Cena in The Marine and Stone Cold Steve Austin in The Condemned.

He played Steve Veldez in the award-winning 2001 film Lantana opposite Without a Trace’s Anthony La Paglia.
 
He was Deputy Billy Kitka in 30 Days of Night, from “Spartacus: Blood and Sand” executive producers Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi’s Ghost House Pictures; and earlier had starred as Marc Antony opposite his “Spartacus: Blood and Sand” co-star Lucy Lawless in Tapert and Raimi’s hit series “Xena: Warrior Princess”

He was born in Auckland, New Zealand, of Maori descent, and grew up in Newcastle, Australia. His acting career began in Australia in series such as “Paradise Beach”, “Water Rats,” “All Saints”, followed by lead roles in New Zealand series including “Street Legal”, “Shortland Street” and “Mataku.”