Simon Baker x Esquire Australia cover party
Simon Baker at the unveiling of his Esquire Australia cover inside Conte Sydney.

THERE ARE QUINTESSENTIAL Esquire cover stars, and then there’s Simon Baker. With a long and decorated career (the Emmy-nominated Australian actor is renowned for his roles in L.A. Confidential, The Devil Wears Prada and, of course, The Mentalist), this certainly isn’t Baker’s first magazine cover. But the last few years have seen him make some of the most interesting choices of his career, taking roles in smaller projects with nonetheless big ambitions, from 2023’s Limbo to Justin Kurzel’s small screen adaptation of Richard Flanagan’s Booker Prize-winning novel, The Narrow Road to the Deep North, which premieres on Prime Video this week. It’s the fact he’s making such compelling choices – the vast majority of them in local productions – that made right now the perfect time to put Baker on the cover of Esquire Australia. 

Ahead of the release of Baker’s Esquire cover, which was captured on location at Sydney’s Whale Beach by renowned Australian photographer Georges Antoni, we had the privilege of celebrating the moment with the man of the moment at Conte Sydney, the newly opened sister venue of beloved Surry Hills institution Bar Conte.

Upstairs, overlooking the venue’s elegant mezzanine and grand bar, the Esquire team were joined by Baker, Antoni and members of The Narrow Road to the Deep North cast; Conte’s signature negronis were sipped upon arrival, with Italian Prosecco hand-picked by owner Raffaelle Lombardi accompanying the evening’s canapé menu designed by head chef Steven De Vecchi – East 33 oysters topped with black river Oscietra caviar were a highlight, as were the persimmon, chive, Dijon mustard and 36-month Parmesan-topped Wagyu beef tarts.

Following an introduction by Esquire Australia Creative Director Grant Pearce, Baker spoke about his love of magazines and the importance of long-form journalism in the age of social media, thanking Antoni and the cover shoot team: “You captured me as me”. Following the cover reveal, guests devoured Conte’s petite tiramisus topped with fresh orange zest, before descending the stairs to enjoy an Italian dinner in the candlelit restaurant below.

Keep scrolling for more candid outtakes from the special evening, captured by photographer and friend of Esquire Ryan Cullen.

Read the cover story: Simon Baker is breaking free

Olivia DeJonge at the Esquire x Simon Baker cover party
Olivia DeJonge, who plays Ella in The Narrow Road to the Deep North, arrives.
Conte Sydney
Conte’s signature Campari Negronis.
Conte Sydney
Esquire Australia x Simon Baker
From left to right: Esquire Australia creative director Grant Pearce, Phoebe Ghorayeb, cover photographer Georges Antoni and Paul Manio.
Esquire Australia x Simon Baker
DeJonge and Antoni enjoy some canapes.
Conte Sydney x Esquire Australia
Esquire Australia creative director introduces the cover.
Esquire Australia features editor Amy Campbell welcomes Simon Baker.
Simon Baker takes to the stage.
Baker talks to the making of his Esquire cover, photographed by Antoni.
Director hands!
Conte Sydney’s signature negronis kept guests quenched throughout the night.
Baker and Antoni.
Antoni with wife Phoebe Ghorayeb.
Freshly shucked Sydney rock oysters on arrival.
Francesca Carey and Olivia DeJonge.
The bar at Conte Sydney.
Pouring a signature negroni.
Left to right: Esquire Australia digital director Arielle Katos, features editor and Amy Campbell, Olivia DeJonge and Francesca Carey.
DeJonge and Baker.
Antoni and Baker with Harper’s BAZAAR Australia/New Zealand publisher Maureen Jordan.

Conte Sydney, 151 Clarence St, Sydney NSW 2000. Make a reservation here.

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Simon Baker is breaking free