Martin Henderson was born in Auckland, New Zealand, commencing his acting career at the tender age of 13, when he appeared in the local television production, Strangers, in 1989. He went on to attend Westlake Boys High School and Birkenhead Primary, laying the foundation for his future success.
It was during this early period that Henderson first gained widespread recognition in his home country, starring in the popular television series Shortland Street from 1992 to 1995. This marked the beginning of his journey to stardom, as he soon found himself transitioning to Australian television, starring in the short-lived soapie, Echo Point, and Sweat, alongside a young Heath Ledger.
The two actors became fast friends, with Henderson convincing Ledger to make the move to Sydney and pursue his acting career. The pair even shared a living arrangement, fostering a strong bond between them. In addition to his work in television, Henderson also appeared in various films, including Home and Away, Big Sky, and Kick, for which he received an AFI Award nomination.
As his career continued to flourish, Henderson made the bold decision to leave Australia and pursue his passion for acting and theatre in New York. It was during this time that he reconnected with his friend Heath Ledger, who was based in Los Angeles.
Henderson spent over a year auditioning for film roles in Los Angeles, but it wasn't until 2001 that he landed a supporting role in the war film Windtalkers, directed by John Woo. This breakthrough role was soon followed by a starring turn opposite Naomi Watts in the horror film The Ring in 2002.
In 2005, Henderson starred alongside Aishwarya Rai in the romantic film Bride & Prejudice and appeared alongside Cate Blanchett in the award-winning film Little Fish. The following year, he was cast in the creator of Grey's Anatomy's new television series, Off the Map, which followed a group of doctors as they traveled to the end of the world to rediscover their motivations for becoming doctors.
In 2018, Henderson returned to the horror genre, starring in the film The Strangers: Prey at Night. Throughout his illustrious career, Henderson has consistently demonstrated his versatility and range as an actor, taking on a wide range of roles and genres with ease.
