Hayden Maher described himself as “a passionate and driven actor, storyteller, and podcast host” who “thrives on creativity”. Hayden’s interest in performing began at an early age in Australia. Since then he has also lived in Canada and The United States. With each move, Hayden said he has “reset” his career.
As Hayden explained, “It’s funny—I used to think my passion for the entertainment industry really took hold when I was about 17. At that point, I was acting in school productions, creating thought-provoking theatre pieces, and collaborating with friends on short films. That felt like the moment I knew this was what I wanted to do.”
“In hindsight, the dream started much earlier. When I was 11, my school had us write letters for a time capsule that we wouldn’t open until our graduation day. When I finally read mine at 17, I was shocked to see that my younger self had already written—with absolute certainty—that I wanted to go to university for acting. Without even realizing it, I had followed the exact path my 11-year old self had imagined—and he was right—it led me to study acting, which turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life.” He continued.
“My first real mentor—the person who showed me what acting is at its core—was my very first teacher at acting school, Ashley Lyons. He’s an incredible actor. At the time, he was teaching for the first time. He brought a level of depth to his teaching that I’d never experienced before. It wasn’t just about acting; it was about understanding the art form, the craft, and what it truly means to be in character and tell a story. I learned so much from watching him work. He made me think critically about the career I had chosen and what it would take to be a great actor.”
“Since graduating, I’ve had a few mentors come in and out of my life. While none of them have stayed for long, each one taught me valuable lessons during the time we worked together. Right now, I don’t have a specific external mentor I lean on, but I do find inspiration in the podcasts and work of people I look up to—many of whom have no idea I exist! In a way, I also try to mentor myself and keep pushing forward….” Maher is open to having new mentors in his life. This is something that he is willing to explore as he continues on his career path.
Hayden’s travels turned out to be “the most exciting and, at the same time, one of the most challenging experiences” so far.
“When I left Australia, I unknowingly thought that moving countries would simply be a continuation of my success. I thought that I’d step into a new place and just keep building from where I left off. Little did I know that moving countries is often a complete reset—and resetting is hard.”
“When I moved to Canada, I was full of excitement for the adventure ahead. I was fortunate to land a great agent within my first few months in Vancouver. Things were looking promising, but just six months into that journey, COVID hit. After a lot of difficult decision-making, I had to return to Australia, where strict travel restrictions kept me grounded for nearly two years. When the borders finally reopened, my then-partner and I moved to the United States. Once again, I found myself starting over.”
“Then, just as I was gaining momentum, the Writers’ Strike happened, and my management dropped me. It truly felt like I was back at square one. Despite all the setbacks, I had gained valuable experience, and the past few years in the U.S. have shown me exponential growth. In hindsight, moving countries is incredibly difficult—especially without a job already lined up—but it has also been one of the most rewarding risks I’ve ever taken.”
In 2024, Hayden appeared on a holiday themed competition series which was designed for aspiring actors. The network/company has asked for their name and the title of the program to not be used in this article. It will be referred to as “The Competition Show”. Overall, it was a great experience for Maher to be a part of.
“I’m always looking for exciting opportunities that challenge me and help further my acting career. When the audition for The Competition Show landed in my inbox, it happened to be during one of the most chaotic and difficult times in my life. I wasn’t in the right headspace for something so lighthearted and festive, and at first, I had no intention of even auditioning.”
Hayden then realized that he had “nothing to lose” and decided to try anyway. He thought, “….I’m already at rock bottom. What could go wrong? It can’t get any worse. So I went for it. Looking back, I’m so glad I took that chance.” He made it to the finale and finished in 2nd place.
Shortly thereafter, Maher started the Blondies Out Loud podcast with one of his fellow competitors.
“Since finishing The Competition Show, I’ve made some really great friends—one of whom is Daxton Bloomquist, my cohost on Blondies Out Loud. From the moment we met, there was this instant camaraderie. He’s a genuinely kind guy, and we just clicked right away. Starting the podcast together has only made our friendship stronger.”
He added, “…I’ve met a bunch of other incredible people from the show. If proximity weren’t such a factor, I know I’d be even closer with some of them. Despite the distance, we all keep in touch through a group chat, and it’s been great to stay connected. What’s refreshing is that, while they’re all naturally competitive, they’re also just really good people—kind, supportive, and all so different in the best way.”
When speaking about the podcast, Hayden said, “I’m really looking forward to 2025. Daxton and I have some exciting plans ahead, like recording live podcasts for Blondies Out Loud. There’s so much happening on that front, and every day brings a new, exciting revelation for the podcast. I’m committed to keeping that momentum going.”
“….I want Blondies Out Loud to be the kind of podcast that makes you chuckle, giggle, and smile—something that brings a little joy and lightness to your day. If I can add some fun to your morning walk or make your commute a little more entertaining that means the world to me. Beyond that, my ultimate goal is to build something that not only brings people joy but also allows me to give back to my community in meaningful ways. We’re still a young podcast, but we’re growing fast! We’re so excited to see where this journey takes us. So if you haven’t already, check it out and follow us on Instagram—we’d love to have you along for the ride!” Hayden's personal Instagram page can be found here.
Maher is also excited about “the next steps” of his career. This includes finding a manager in Los Angeles, pursuing more of his own creative projects, and exploring new opportunities. Additionally, he is very passionate about helping animals in need.
“….I spend a lot of time at my local rescue, looking for ways to help more dogs find their forever homes. Right now, I’m focused on growing Blondies Out Loud into a must-listen podcast while also pursuing my dream of landing a regular role in a drama-thriller television series. At the heart of everything I do is a commitment to storytelling, connection, and giving back to the community.”
Finally, when asked about his advice for up-and-coming actors, Hayden Maher replied, “The advice I’d give to anyone dreaming of becoming an actor is the same advice I give myself every day—though, admittedly, I don’t always follow it perfectly. The key is to do something every single day to get better. You can’t rest on your laurels or take it easy in this industry. It’s one that demands constant growth. Acting is a skill that can be learned, nurtured, and refined. So, it’s crucial to work on your fitness, voice, focus, and imagination. Read, learn, and, most importantly, put it all into practice as often as you can. You’ll learn the fastest when you’re in the fire and testing yourself in real situations.”
For more information, please visit www.haydenmaher.com.
Photo courtesy of Hayden Maher.
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