David Helfgott David Helfgott David Helfgott (born 19 May 1947) is an Australian concert pianist. Helfgott's life inspired the Academy Award-winning film "Shine", in which he was portrayed by actors Geoffrey Rush and Noah Taylor. Helfgott was born in Melbourne to Polish Jewish parents Rachel (née Granek) and Elias Peter Helfgott. He won the state final of the ABC Instrumental and Vocal Competition six times. The awards he won at the Royal College of Music included the Dannreuther Prize for Best Concerto Performance, for his performance of Rachmaninoff's "Piano Concerto No. 3", and the Marmaduke Barton Prize. During his time in London,
Geoffrey Rush a Madman" at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Rush won for this role Helpmann Award and was nominated for the Drama Desk Award. From November 2011, Rush played the role of Lady Bracknell in the Melbourne Theatre Company production of "The Importance of Being Earnest". Other actors from the 1988 production include Jane Menelaus, this time as Miss Prism, and Bob Hornery, who had played Canon Chasuble, as the two butlers. Rush made his film debut in the Australian film "Hoodwink" in 1981. His next film was Gillian Armstrong's "Starstruck", the following year. In the coming years he appeared in