James Hagan's career began in 1975 at the Perth Playhouse. He spent seven years touring Britain and Europe with the Australian theatre company Triad Stage Alliance before working in Frankfurt and Florence. Since returning to Australia in 1985, James has worked constantly in theatre, film, and radio, performing in over forty productions.
James won the New York Radio Festival Silver prize in 1987 and Bronze prize in 1989 for narration in radio advertisements. He is a well-known voice-over artist in Australia, New Zealand, and Britain for his anti-smoking commercials with Quit Smoking Australia.
James's stage credits include seasons with Hole In The Wall, Black Swan, Cross Roads, and the Sydney Theatre Company. He has played notable roles such as Henry Higgins in Pygmalion, Claudius in Hamlet, Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Shylock in The Merchant of Venice.
James has received critical acclaim for his performances, including reviews from Ron Banks and Colin Rose. He won the Best Actor award from the Equity Guild of WA for his performance in Red.
As a voice artist, James has worked extensively for ABC Radio, recording diverse works such as book readings, straight plays, and poetry. His voice has been used in numerous television commercials and radio voice-overs.
In addition to his theatre and voice work, James has appeared in numerous film and television productions, including Intransit, Mary MacKillop, Wind, and Fat Cat and the Time Bandits. He has also worked as a voice and drama teacher, coaching actors, announcers, and business people.
James has been a speech and drama coach for NIDA Outreach, Department of Education Performing Arts Sydney, John Curtin Performing Arts, and various Screen Acting Workshops in Sydney and Perth.
