Damon Herriman doesn’t think career will change much despite landing Quentin Tarantino movie

Damon Herriman isn’t expecting life to change despite starring in one of the most anticipated Hollywood films of the year. The Aussie plays cult leader Charles Manson alongside big names including Margot Robbie, Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio

Damon Herriman isn’t expecting life to change despite starring in one of the most anticipated Hollywood films of the year.

The 49-year-old later this month has the world premiere of Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, in which he plays cult leader Charles Manson, at the Cannes Film Festival.

“I don’t know that I am ready but I also don’t know that there is going to be an onslaught of attention,” Herriman told The Daily Telegraph at the launch of the Sydney Film Festival program that features his Australian film, Judy and Punch.

Damon Herriman is philosophical despite landing Quentin Tarantino’s Hollywood blockbuster. Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts

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“Obviously by association and being involved in that film definitely changes things a bit. I don’t know though, I’ve been doing this since I was eight and nothing surprises me in either direction anymore. I have seen so many friends careers that I thought was going to go one way and they went the other way in either direction so who knows.”

Herriman stars alongside a who’s who of Hollywood including Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Al Pacino, Margot Robbie, Dakota Fanning and Emile Hirsch.

Herriman will play cult leader Charles Manson in the highly anticipated movie.

Manson being arrested in 1999. Picture: AP Photo, File

“I genuinely don’t know if anything will change,” he said.

“Characters like Charles Manson and others I have played — although I keep getting told I do look like Charles Manson which is slightly offensive — I am not instantly recognisable from a lot of stuff I play so I don’t know that will change.”

Fellow Aussie Margot Robbie will also star in the film as Sharon Tate. Picture: Instagram/@margotrobbie

Herriman landed his first acting role in 1980, playing Frank Errol on The Sullivans. Since then, he’s appeared in everything from The Flying Doctors to The Big Steal, Brides of Christ, Water Rats and Love My Way.

In recent years he has starred on American TV shows like Incorporated and Quarry.

Judy and Punch meanwhile was directed by Mirrah Foulkes and also stars Mia Wasikowska and had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year.

It will screen in Australia for the first time at the Sydney Film Festival that runs from June 5 to 16.

Other huge A-listers in the film include Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio. Picture: Sony

“I definitely feel like this is the perfect set-up for me, that I can work in Australia on something like Judy and Punch and then go and do something crazy like that in America,” he said.

“Even five or 10 years ago that would have been beyond my wildest dreams.”

Judy and Punch of course is based on the traditional Punch and Judy puppet show.

“It is essentially a dark fairytale,” he explained.

“Everything about it was an actor’s dream — to get to work with Mirrah and the script was incredible, one of the best things I’ve ever read, the role is to die for and I got to work with Mia Wasikowska … there is nothing bad about this job.”