Editing Eric Bana (section)

===1998–2004: Hollywood breakthrough===
In 1997, despite his inexperience with dramatic roles, Bana was approached by director [[Andrew Dominik]] to appear in the film ''[[Chopper (film)|Chopper]]'' (2000), a biographical film based on the life of infamous Australian criminal [[Mark "Chopper" Read|Chopper Read]]. Dominik had been working on the project for five years, but was unable to find an actor to portray Read. Only after Read himself suggested Bana, having seen him perform a skit on television, did Dominik consider him for the part.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Strickland |first=Christopher |title=Director's Cut: Andrew Dominik's "Chopper" |journal=[[If Magazine]] |date=July 2000}}</ref>

For the role, Bana shaved his head, gained {{Convert|30|lb|order=flip}}, and spent two days with Read to perfect his mimicry. During filming, he arrived on set at 4{{nbsp}}am and spent five hours being covered in Read's trademark tattoos.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Chopping & Changing |journal=[[Who (magazine)|Who Weekly]] |date=22 October 2001}}</ref> In spite of the film's limited release outside of Australia, Bana's performance received positive reviews. American film critic [[Roger Ebert]] complimented Bana, stating that "in a comedian named Eric Bana the filmmakers have found, I think, a future star [...] He has a quality no acting school can teach you and few actors can match. You cannot look away from him".<ref name="BIO"/><ref name=":0">{{cite journal|last=Ebert|first=Roger|date=1 June 2001|title=Review of "Chopper"|url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20010601/REVIEWS/106010302/1023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104205826/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/chopper-2001|archive-date=4 January 2016|access-date=31 December 2020|website=RogerEbert.com}}</ref> ''Chopper'' was a critical and financial success in Australia, and was nominated for Best Film at the [[Australian Film Institute Awards]] in 2001. Bana's performance won the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actor.<ref name="management"/>

In 2001, director [[Ridley Scott]] cast Bana as an American soldier in the film ''[[Black Hawk Down (film)|Black Hawk Down]]'' (2001). Scott, with a recommendation from [[Russell Crowe]] and impressed by Bana's performance in ''Chopper'', did not require him to audition.<ref name=":1">{{cite journal |last=Woods |first=Stacey |title=First Buzz: The Incredible Hulk |journal=[[Elle (magazine)|Elle]] |date=February 2002}}</ref> In the film, he played [[Sergeant First Class]] Norm "Hoot" Hooten, an elite [[Delta Force]] soldier, who fights his way out of a battle in [[Mogadishu]], Somalia, after a mission to capture two top lieutenants of a renegade warlord goes awry. Bana shed the weight he had gained for ''Chopper'' and began an exercise regimen months before filming began. He also trained with Delta Force operators at [[Fort Bragg, North Carolina|Fort Bragg]], learning to fire weapons and clear rooms.<ref name="Hits">{{cite journal |last=Hopkins |first=Mark |title=Eric Hits Hollywood |journal=GQ Magazine (Australian Edition) |date=April 2002}}</ref> Between 2000 and 2001, Bana played Joe Sabatini in ''[[Something in the Air (TV series)|Something in the Air]]'', an Australian soap opera set in a small town. After two seasons, Bana left the show to focus on his Hollywood career.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Harwood|first=Andrew|date=9 February 2008|title=Something's in the air, again|url=https://televisionau.com/2008/02/somethings-in-the-air-again.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101224614/https://televisionau.com/2008/02/somethings-in-the-air-again.html|archive-date=1 January 2021|access-date=27 December 2020|website=Television.AU|language=en-AU}}</ref>

Bana's next project was 2002's low-budget Australian film ''[[The Nugget]]''. A comedy, the film portrays the effect of instant wealth on three working-class men, and was released with moderate success in Australia. Bana read the script after filming ''Chopper'' in 2000, and was drawn to it because it reminded him of his childhood, and because he found its characters amusing and likeable.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=Partridge|first=Des|url=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v337/EricArchives/Articles/2002/Article-2002-10-17-whatsOn_03-Mona.jpg|title=The Incredible Rise of Eric Bana|work=What's On Weekly|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114033255/http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v337/EricArchives/Articles/2002/Article-2002-10-17-whatsOn_03-Mona.jpg|archive-date=14 November 2012|publication-date=17 October 2002}}</ref> While filming ''The Nugget'', Bana was offered the lead role of Bruce Banner in the film adaptation of the popular [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] comic book series ''[[Hulk|The Incredible Hulk]]''. Only after learning of director [[Ang Lee]]'s involvement in the project did he consider the role.<ref name="Hits"/> Bana admired Lee for his work on the film ''[[The Ice Storm (film)|The Ice Storm]]'' and agreed to work on the film before the final script was complete.<ref name="TNT">{{cite journal |last=Mootram |first=James |title=Making it Big |journal=TNT Magazine |date=14 July 2003}}</ref> He said he was drawn to the film because "the character of Bruce Banner had dramatic potential", and was "a fairly non-traditional superhero".<ref name="TNT"/> Although ''[[Hulk (film)|Hulk]]'' (2003) received mixed reviews and was a moderate success at the box office, Bana's performance was highly praised: Jack Matthews of ''[[New York Daily News]]'' felt that Bana played the role of Bruce Banner "with great conviction".<ref name=":3">{{cite news |last=Mathews |first=Jack |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/beast-eyes-ang-lee-hulk-doesn-engage-heart-article-1.294374 |title=Beast for the Eyes |newspaper=New York Daily News |date=20 June 2003 |access-date=22 November 2014}}</ref>

In 2003, he voiced [[hammerhead shark]] [[Finding Nemo (franchise)|Anchor]] in the critically and commercially acclaimed animated [[Pixar]] film ''[[Finding Nemo]]''.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|last=Pierce|first=Nev|date=5 October 2003|title=BBC - Films - review - Finding Nemo|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2003/07/22/finding_nemo_2003_review.shtml|access-date=31 December 2020|website=BBC}}</ref> In 2004, Bana co-starred with [[Brad Pitt]] and [[Orlando Bloom]] in the war epic ''[[Troy (film)|Troy]]''. He portrayed [[Hector|Prince Hector]], leader of the [[Troy|Trojan]] forces battling against the [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] warrior [[Achilles]]. When he read the script, he was drawn to Hector because, "I really felt a lot for him. I felt he was just a wonderful character [...] Orlando I love to death, and we've worked together before and when he was cast as my younger brother, it was just a great feel and I hope that shows in the film."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Clint|first=Caffeinated|date=5 May 2004|title=Interview : Eric Bana|url=https://moviehole.net/interview-eric-bana-2/|access-date=31 December 2020|website=Moviehole|language=en-US}}</ref> Bana also had prepared for the role by taking lessons in sword training and learning to ride [[Equestrianism|horseback]]. Although ''Troy''{{'}}s critical reaction was mixed,<ref name=":5">{{Citation|title=Troy - Movie Reviews|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/troy/reviews|work=Rotten Tomatoes|language=en|access-date=21 December 2020}}</ref> the film was a financial success, grossing US$497 million.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=troy.htm |title=Troy |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=2 June 2006}}</ref> Bana's portrayal was well received; Stella Papamichael of the [[BBC]] thought he was "magnetic",<ref>{{Cite web|last=Papamichael|first=Stella|date=20 May 2004|title=BBC - Films - Troy|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2004/05/13/troy_2004_review.shtml|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101224508/http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2004/05/13/troy_2004_review.shtml|archive-date=1 January 2021|access-date=21 December 2020|website=BBC}}</ref> and ''[[The Washington Post]]''{{'}}s [[Desson Thomson]] believed his "touching" performance.<ref name=":29">{{Cite news|last=Thomson|first=Desson|date=14 May 2004|title='Troy:' Brad to the Bone (washingtonpost.com)|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A22724-2004May12.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305144934/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A22724-2004May12.html|archive-date=5 March 2016|access-date=21 December 2020|newspaper=Washington Post}}</ref>