Aussie star Guy Pearce opens up about the death of his father when he was eight years old: ‘I didn’t really know who I was’

Guy Pearce has gotten candid about losing his father when he was just eight years old.

The Australian actor, 57, opened up about his childhood on LiSTNR’s The Jess Rowe Big Talk Show on Wednesday, revealing that his son is now the age he was when he lost his dad.  

The L.A. Confidential star told Rowe: ‘What’s kind of really poignant for me right now is my own son (Monte) is eight (years old). 

‘Here I am looking at him every day going, “Right, I was that (old), right.”‘

He continued: ‘I remember that period from 1976, but I didn’t really know who I was because I couldn’t look at myself objectively but now, I have the opportunity to do so. 

‘I’ve got to be careful not to project my own grief and sadness onto him because he’s not having that experience.’

Guy Pearce opened up about his childhood on LiSTNR’s The Jess Rowe Big Talk Show on Wednesday

Pearce’s father, who was an RAF test pilot, reportedly died in an aircraft accident at the age of 39.

In 2008, the actor told MailOnline: ‘Dad’s death probably made me afraid of any unpredictability in my life.’

He added: ‘Of course, life contains nothing but unpredictability, and so, as a kid, my nerves were jangling constantly and I operated on this incredibly high frequency all the time.    

‘It was hard being around people; I just wanted to close the door on them.’  

Recently, Guy Pearce was spotted attending the AACTA Awards solo after confirming his split with his long time girlfriend Carice van Houten in January. 

And the 57-year-old fan favourite made another kind of bold statement at the film and TV industry event which took place at a lavish ceremony on the Gold Coast.

The much loved former Neighbours star hit the red carpet wearing a white brooch which featured a white bird of ‘peace’ and the words ‘Free Palestine’.

Looking dashing in a stylish blue lounge suit, button-down white dress shirt and purple paisley neck tie the Oscar nominee smiled and waved at onlookers as he posed for a set of snaps.

The Aussie actor was spotted attending the AACTA Awards solo after confirming his split with his long time girlfriend Carice van Houten

Wearing a pair of stylish horn-rims and a light beard flecked with grey, the suave ex-Neighbours wore his short hair in a swept back wave and completed his look with a pair black brogues.

He accessorised with a designer watch and wore a beaded band with Palestinian colours on his right wrist.

It comes after Guy secured his first-ever Oscar nomination just a day after his split with partner Carice was confirmed.

The Game Of Thrones star confirmed the news on her Instagram account and revealed the pair haven’t been a couple for ‘years’.

Meanwhile, the former Neighbours star has been nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his critically acclaimed turn in The Brutalist.

Pearce stars alongside Adrien Brody in the post-World War II drama, with Adrian also securing a Best Actor nomination.

The Oscar nod continues a run of nominations for Pearce including the Golden Globe and BAFTA awards.

He is vying for the coveted statue with Keiran Culkin (A Real Pain) and Edward Norton (A Complete Unknown).

Guy secured his first-ever Oscar nomination for the Brutalist just a day after his split with partner Carice was confirmed

The Oscar nod continues a run of nominations for Pearce including the Golden Globe and BAFTA awards

The category is rounded out by Yura Borisov for his turn in Anora and Jeremy Strong for The Apprentice.

The Brutalist features quite prominently this year with 10 nominations including Best Supporting Actress for Felicity Jones and Best Director for Brady Corbet.

It tells the story of an architect (Brody) escaping post-war Europe to rebuild his life in America.

Guy plays a prominent – and fictional – tycoon called Harrison Lee Van Buren who spots the architects talents and ‘sponsors’ his career – with tragic results.

Despite starring in a range of critically acclaimed Hollywood fare including Memento and L.A Confidential, this is the first time Pearce has been recognised by the Academy.