Zac Burgess has become the talk of Hollywood with his breakout role as Lucien Belmont in Amazon Prime Video’s highly anticipated Cruel Intentions series, which premiered on November 21, 2024.
Key Takeaways
- Zac Burgess is a 22-year-old Australian actor starring as Lucien Belmont in the new Cruel Intentions series.
- He comes from an acting family background, being the son of late Australian actor Scott Burgess.
- The WAAPA graduate took an unconventional approach by not watching the original 1999 film before taking on the role.
The fresh-faced Australian actor brings a new twist to the character originally portrayed by Ryan Phillippe while carefully crafting his own unique interpretation of the role.
Surprising Journey From Nursing To Acting
Before stepping into the spotlight, Burgess was on a completely different career path. The five-foot-nine actor initially pursued nursing, earning a certificate from TAFE NSW in 2020.
However, destiny had other plans. In 2021, he followed in his father’s footsteps and enrolled at the prestigious Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA).
Acting runs deep in the Burgess family bloodline. Zac’s father, Scott Burgess, made his mark in Australian entertainment through notable works like Dead Easy and the World War I drama 1915.
Tragically, Scott passed away in 2016 at age 57, leaving behind a lasting influence on his son’s artistic journey.
Even though he had acting in his blood, the Bellingen native’s rise to fame wasn’t overnight.
Before landing his role in Cruel Intentions, Burgess proved his acting prowess in Netflix’s Boy Swallows Universe, where he portrayed the 17-year-old version of Eli Ross alongside Australian stars Simon Baker and Phoebe Tonkin.
Personal Life
While capturing hearts on screen, Burgess’s own heart belongs to kinesiologist Leah Gersteling.
The couple has been sharing their journey on social media, including romantic getaways to Bali’s pristine beaches.
Furthermore, Gersteling runs her own practice, Higher Ground Healing, in Australia.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Burgess rated his American accent as “9.9 out of 10” despite being Australian.
- He discovered halfway through filming that the original character died in the 1999 movie.
- The actor shared a heartfelt poem about his late father on Instagram in 2023.
