Five Fast Facts About Former Grey’s Anatomy Star Martin Henderson

Grey’s Anatomy fans will remember Martin Henderson as the man who played Nathan Riggs, Meredith Grey’s first real love interest following the death of Derek Shepherd. Though he was only on the show from Season 12 to Season 14, he was a great character.

From where he was born and raised to being in an iconic music video, here are five fast facts about Martin Henderson from Grey’s Anatomy.

In the Beginning
Henderson was actually born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand, which is where he first started acting. In fact, his first professional acting job was at the age of 13 on a show called Strangers.

Soapy Start
Henderson then got his first main role on a television show in 1992 when he starred on the New Zealand soap opera called Shortland Street. He was on the show from 1992 until 1995. He then decided to move to New York City in 1997.

Award Nominated
Henderson was nominated for an Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance in the 1999 film Kick, which was about a champion high school rugby player with a secret desire to be a ballet dancer.

Oops, He Did It Again
They say all actors wish they were rock stars so Henderson was probably pretty excited to get to appear in a music video — with none other than pop star Britney Spears! In fact, he played Spears’s boyfriend in her 2003 video of Toxic, from the album In The Zone.

Surprise Friendship
Henderson mentored a then-16-year-old Heath Ledger, when both appeared on two shows around the same time — Sweat and Home and Away. The two actors remained close friends until Ledger’s untimely death in 2008 from an overdose.