If you’ve spent any time on FilmTwitter or scrolled through the "New Releases" on your TV lately, you’ve probably seen Zen McGrath’s face. He’s got this specific, haunting look—the kind of expression that makes you feel like he’s carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. Most people know him as the kid from The Son, the 2022 drama where he went toe-to-toe with Hugh Jackman.
But honestly? There is so much more to his career than just that one polarizing movie.
McGrath isn't just a newcomer who got lucky. He’s part of a weirdly talented Australian acting dynasty (his brothers Gulliver and Winta are also constantly on screen). He’s been working since he was about ten years old. If you actually look at the full list of Zen McGrath movies and TV shows, you’ll realize he’s been quietly building a resume in high-concept sci-fi and gritty thrillers long before he was Nicholas Miller.
The Breakthrough That No One Remembers: Aloft (2014)
Most people think Zen started with The Son. Not true. He actually made his debut in a heavy-hitter called Aloft back in 2014.
He played the younger version of Ivan (Cillian Murphy’s character). It was a strange, atmospheric movie about a mother and son separated by a tragedy. What’s wild is that he was originally replacing his older brother, Gulliver, who had aged out of the role because production got delayed.
Working with Jennifer Connelly and Cillian Murphy at age 12 is a hell of a way to start a career. It set the tone for everything he’s done since: he doesn't really do "light" movies. Even as a kid, he was gravitating toward roles that required a lot of emotional heavy lifting.
Dig and the Cult Phenomenon
In 2015, Zen landed a role in the USA Network series Dig. If you haven't seen it, it's basically a Da Vinci Code-style thriller set in Jerusalem.
He played Josh, a young boy being raised in a weird, isolated compound in New Mexico. Without spoiling too much, his character is central to a massive conspiracy involving the end of the world. Critics at the time actually pointed him out as one of the most compelling parts of the show. While the adults were running around solving mysteries, Zen had to play this eerie, innocent, but deeply suspicious "chosen one."
It was his first real taste of a major TV production, and it showed he could handle the pacing of a series just as well as a feature film.
The Red Dog Connection
Every Australian actor eventually does a "bush" movie. It’s basically a rite of passage. For Zen, it was Red Dog: True Blue (2016).
He played Theo Carter, one of the sons of Jason Isaacs' character. It was a bit of a meta-role because he was actually acting alongside his real-life brother, Winta McGrath.
It’s one of the few times you get to see him in something that isn't soul-crushingly depressing. It’s a family film, it’s heartwarming, and it’s a total 180 from the stuff he’d do later. If you want to see him actually crack a smile on screen, this is the one to watch.
The Elephant in the Room: The Son (2022)
We have to talk about The Son. There’s no way around it.
When Florian Zeller (who directed The Father) cast Zen as Nicholas, the expectations were sky-high. He was playing a teenager struggling with clinical depression, starring opposite Hugh Jackman, Laura Dern, and Anthony Hopkins.
The reaction was... mixed. Some people found his performance incredibly raw and realistic. Others found it difficult to watch. On Reddit and Letterboxd, the debates are still going. Some viewers felt the script didn't give him enough room to breathe, while others felt he perfectly captured the "numbness" of depression.
Regardless of where you land on the movie itself, you can’t deny the guts it took for a 19-year-old to take on that role. He spent months in a very dark headspace to get that performance right. In interviews, he’s talked about how he had to "shake it off" at the end of the day just to stay sane.
Why his filmography matters
When you look at the trajectory of Zen McGrath movies and TV shows, a pattern emerges. He isn't interested in being a teen idol. He’s an actor’s actor.
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Aloft | Young Ivan | Movie |
| 2015 | Dig | Josh | TV Series |
| 2016 | Red Dog: True Blue | Theo Carter | Movie |
| 2019 | Utopia | Pop-up Role | TV Series |
| 2020 | Risen | James | Movie |
| 2022 | The Son | Nicholas | Movie |
He’s also popped up in things like Utopia (the Australian comedy, not the UK thriller) and a sci-fi film called Risen. He keeps moving between genres, but he always lands back in these roles that explore the darker side of the human experience.
What’s Next for Zen?
After the massive press cycle for The Son, Zen has been a bit more selective. He’s reached that age where he’s transitioning from "child actor" to "adult lead," which is always a tricky pivot.
But he has a few things going for him:
- The Pedigree: He’s been around sets his whole life.
- The Range: He can do the "eerie kid" thing (Dig), the "normal teen" thing (Red Dog), and the "shattered soul" thing (The Son).
- The Connections: Working with directors like Florian Zeller and actors like Jackman means his name is in the right rooms.
If you’re looking to catch up on his work, don't just stop at the big-budget dramas. Go back and find Dig. It’s a weird, wild ride that shows a totally different side of his ability to hold a mystery together.
The best way to keep up with his career is to watch his earlier Australian work. A lot of people miss the nuance in his later roles because they haven't seen the foundation he built in smaller indie projects. If you want to see a masterclass in quiet intensity, watch his scenes in Aloft—it’s where everything started.
Keep an eye on upcoming Australian production slates; that's usually where he makes his most interesting moves.
