Born and raised in Christchurch, New Zealand, Matt Whelan is a graduate of Toi Whakaari, New Zealand's most prestigious drama school, having completing a Bachelor of Performing Arts in Acting. Immediately upon graduating he joined the cast of Show of Hands, performing alongside Melanie Lynskey. He has gone on to perform in a lead role capacity in many productions including The Most Fun You Can Have Dying, My Wedding and Other Secrets and several seasons of a local NZ drama series Go Girls. His international career took off with 2 episodes in Of Kings and Prophets prior to him landing the illustrious role of Hugh Hefner in American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story. Matt is currently shooting Narcos in Colombia - an interesting juxtaposition from the Playboy Mansion to the drug-lands of South America.