Australian actor Simon Baker admits drink driving

Australian actor and director Simon Baker has acknowledged his guilt in a drink driving case, as reported in a New South Wales (NSW) court. Baker, who was apprehended for driving under the influence on July 20, was found intoxicated behind the wheel near his home in the Byron Bay region during the early morning hours.

Although the 55-year-old actor was not required to appear in person at Mullumbimby Court House on Wednesday, legal documents confirm that he admitted to the charge of driving while intoxicated, marking his first such offence.

Simon Baker is a well-known figure in the entertainment industry, having gained fame for his roles in several high-profile projects. His acting career includes notable performances in the Australian soap opera Home and Away, the Hollywood film The Devil Wears Prada, and the critically acclaimed US crime drama series The Mentalist. Baker, who grew up in northern New South Wales, first made his mark on classic Australian television shows like Heartbreak High and A Country Practice.

In 1993, Baker won the Logie Award for Best New Talent, an accolade from Australia’s premier television awards. His talent soon caught the attention of Hollywood, where he starred in the Oscar-winning film L.A. Confidential. After spending two decades in the US film industry, Baker earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He later returned to Australia, continuing his career both as an actor and a director. His recent work includes a notable role in the Netflix series Boy Swallows Universe, for which he was nominated for Best Lead Actor at the Logies.

Baker is scheduled to appear again at Mullumbimby Court House on September 11 for sentencing related to the drink driving charge.