Antony Starr: who is Homelander actor in The Boys, why was he arrested in Spain - what else has he been in?

Antony Starr is a 45 year old actor from New Zealand, best know internationally for playing the uber-powerful and sadistic villain Homelander in The Boys, one of Amazon Prime’s most popular shows.

He has played the super menace in the first three seasons of The Boys - the latest season aired this summer - and will reprise the role in the fourth season which is expected to air late next year.

Starr’s performance on the show made Homelander one of the most popular characters on the show has endeared him to fans who suggested he should win an Emmy for the role, though he is yet to receive a nomination.

The actor has many other screen credits on his CV and was filming scenes for an upcoming Guy Ritchie film alongside Nightcrawler actor Jake Gyllenhaal earlier this year.

However, Starr became the subjeect of negative media attention a few weeks before the release of the third season of The Boys when he was arrested in Spain.

Who is Antony Starr, what has he been in, why was he arrested in Spain, and what has he said about the incident? Here is everything you need to know:

Who is Antony Starr?

Antony Starr was born in Wellington, New Zealand in 1975 and began acting professionally when he was 20.

He is well known down under for his dual role as twins Jethro and Van West in the New Zealand comedy crime series Outrageous Fortune which ran from 2005-2010.

He played the lead role of ex-con Lucas Hood in the American action series Banshee and played Garrett Hawthorne in mystery series American Gothic.

In 2019 he took on the role of Homelander, the leader of a corrupt group of Superheroes, in the comic book adaptation The Boys.

Homelander is a manically narcissistic, insecure super being who blackmails, tortures, and kills in order to get what he wants.

His film career includes starring roles as John Drean in New Zealand drama After the Waterfall, and Jeremy King in Australian mystery drama Wish You Were Here.

He is also due to star in the upcoming horror film Cobweb, and an as yet untitled Guy Ritchie film in which he will starr alongside Jake Gyllenhaal.

Why was Antony Starr arrested?

Starr was arrested on 2 March 2022 in Alicante, Spain after he assaulted a 21-year old chef at a pub while drunk.

It was reported that Starr punched the chef twice causing him to be taken to hospital where he received four stitches.

Starr had been in Spain to shoot the Guy Ritchie film when the altercation took place.

He received a 12-month suspended prison sentence (all sentences under 2 years are automatically suspended in Spain if the offender does not have a criminal record) for the crime of wounding, and had to pay the equivalent of £4,400 in restitution to avoid jail.

Speaking about the incident later this year, Starr said: “I got myself into a situation that was negative and I reacted poorly, and the way forward from that was very clear.

“It was quite simply to take ownership of it, which I do, and then really learn from it and move forward.”

The chef, Bathuel Araujo, told police that he had been punched by Starr twice before having a glass smashed in his face.

Starr will not have to spend any time in prison as long as he does not reoffend in Spain during the period of his suspended sentence.

When is The Boys on Amazon?

Season three of The Boys was released weekly on Amazon Prime over June and July this year, with the finale landing on 8 July. All three seasons are now available to watch on Amazon Prime.