Anthony Hayes

Apart from acting in numerous films and television shows, he also wrote, directed and produced the films Ten Empty (2008), New Skin (2002) and Sweet Dreams (2002), Ten Empty had its world premiere at the Sydney Film Festival (2008). The screenplay was nominated for 2007 Queensland Premier's Literary Awards and 2008 Victorian Premier's Literary Award. New Skin (2002) won the Dendy Award at the 2002 Sydney Film Festival and won Hayes an IF Award as best emerging director. Sweet Dreams (2002) was voted most popular film by the audience at the St Kilda Film Festival in 2003. Hayes also earned AFI and Film Critics Circle award nominations for The Boys.

Hayes received AFI and Film Critics Circle award nominations for best supporting actor in The Square (2009), and won Look Both Ways (2005) and Suburban Mayhem (2006).

He was a co-founder of Rogue Stars Productions with fellow actors Brendan Cowell and Leland Kean in 1999.

Although primarily a screen actor, Hayes does voice over work as well.

Joel Edgerton nicknamed him 'The King of Western Grit' during the shooting of The Square, The moniker later became the name of a Facebook page, with a collection of movie posters with Hayes' face on them.

Anthony co-wrote the film Gold with writer Polly Smyth. It stars Zac Efron, Susie Porter and himself. He directed and produced it through his company Rogue Star Pictures. The film was shot in South Australia in 2020.

Hayes appeared in all three series of ABC political drama Total Control.

In 2023, Hayes was announced as part of the cast for controversial two part miniseries Warnie in the role of Terry 'TJ' Jenner. The decision to produce the miniseries about Warne after his death was criticised by Warne's daughter Brooke who described it as "beyond disrespectful". The trailer for the miniseries also attracted negative commentary on social media when it was first shown on 31 May 2023. The telemovie garnered mostly negative reviews from the press and public.