Simon Lucas Baker (born 30 July 1969) is an Australian actor and director. He appeared on the Australian soap opera E Street (1992–1993). In 1997 he had a supporting role as Matt Reynolds in L.A. Confidential (1997). This role marked his American film debut and a pivotal turning point in his career, successfully establishing his presence in the international film industry. He starred in the CBS legal drama The Guardian (2001–2004), for which he received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Television Series – Drama in 2002. He played Patrick Jane in the 2008-2015 Drama-thriller series The Mentalist, earning a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2009. Baker has also appeared in several films, including, Restaurant (1998), The Devil Wears Prada (2006), and Margin Call (2011).