SIMON BAKER may project the Aussie spirit through and through, but the actor is planning to become an American.

The star of The Mentalist has been living in Los Angeles for 13 years with his actress wife Rebecca Rigg and three children.

Barack Obama’s ascension to the presidency encouraged him to apply for American citizenship, although he will not relinquish his Australian passport.

”The only reason I haven’t done it already is I’m a huge procrastinator,” he told The Sun-Herald. ”Both my sons [Claude, 12, and Harry, 9] were born in America so they have dual citizenship.”

Baker, who turns 41 in a fortnight, said his children were Australian without trying. ”I bring them home whenever I can but in LA we’re an Aussie household,” he said.

”Sure we do the Tim Tams and Vegemite thing, but being Aussie is just about being real. No airs and graces. Our family is normal.”

As normal as it can be when dad’s an international heart-throb and the children’s godparents are the Hollywood stars Nicole Kidman and Naomi Watts.

”To me they’re not famous friends, they are just friends.”

Baker flew in for Friday’s soiree at the Museum of Contemporary Art to promote Samsung’s new campaign slogan, ”Turn On Tomorrow”. So what turns him on?

”My imagination turns me on,” he said. Baker has a similar effect on millions of women around the globe, to the eternal discomfort of his 17-year-old daughter, Stella. ”She’s not impressed with the sex-symbol thing – but I think it would be strange if she didn’t think that,” he said. [source]

Simon was at the Samsung 9 Objects Of Desire Showcase event. I have added pictures to the gallery.

I have added 96 HQ pictures of “The Mentalist”. They are episode stills, promotional pictures and behind the scenes pictures. Click the thumbnails to be taken to the albums.
And don’t forget to follow us on twitter!

Samsung Electronics Australia has signed Australian actor Simon Baker of The Mentalist fame to front its new brand campaign.

The actor and the campaign will be communicating the company’s ‘Turn on Tomorrow’ brand positioning.

The locally developed campaign, set to air later this year and created by Leo Burnett, will be around Samsung’s pursuit of a better future through delivering product and service innovation. The campaign will communicate the company’s technical innovation across audio visual, IT, telecommunications and white goods categories.

Lambro Skropidis, head of corporate marketing, Samsung Electronics Australia, said: “We believe now is the right time to communicate to Australians not only our diverse product offering, but more importantly our drive to always stay one step ahead of the market and deliver genuine technological innovation that improves people’s lives.”

He added: “Simon was the perfect choice to represent this new chapter for the Samsung brand as he is excelling in his field, passionate about what he does and driven to succeed, making him the ideal figurehead for our brand.”

Baker is an Australian film and television actor who is currently the star of Channel Nine’s television series The Mentalist, and has starred in films including The Devil Wears Prada and L.A. Confidential.

The new campaign is expected later this year. [Source]

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I have added scans of Simon in the April 2010 issue of In Style.

I have updated the gallery with all the recent events that were missing.

I have added a season 2 promotional and stills from The Mentalist. You can see them HERE.

Simon was at the “Life Rolls On Foundation’s annual Night By The Ocean Gala” event. Pictures are in the gallery.

Life Rolls On Foundation’s annual Night By The Ocean Gala – 4th October