Star of one of Australia's most controversial movies looks unrecognisable as he resurfaces in an Aldi ad

He's one of Australia's most highly regarded actors, and the star of one of the most controversial movies ever produced Down Under.

And the screen veteran has recently popped up, looking almost unrecognisable in an ad for supermarket chain Aldi.

The ad opens with a confused shopper worrying about the price of cheese at the checkout.

The esteemed actor then steps into frame, giving off a very mercurial vibe as he calmly tells the shopper: 'You don't have to do that here.'

When the worried shopper asks how he can know if he is getting the best cheese deal, the mystery star then shows off his true acting talent.

'They're Aldi prices,' the actor said in a slightly off-putting way. 'You don't have to check them.'

He then smiles at the shopper before swanning out of the scene.

But do you know who it is? 

That's right, it's none other than Australian acting icon Nicholas Hope. 

Nicholas, 66, has enjoyed a long and storied small and big screen career, but it was his first feature film role that he is perhaps best remembered for.

Back in 1993, he starred in Rolf de Heer's critically lauded but highly controversial crime-comedy Bad Boy Bubby.

And Nicholas, decked out in a distinguished turtle neck and blazer, and with his thinning grey locks slicked back, was a far cry from the wide-eyed, wild-maned character that shocked and enthralled audiences more than two decades ago.

It was a fact not lost on members of the Bad Boy Bubby Appreciation Page on Facebook, who were quick to share screenshots of Nicholas in the ad.

'Not 100% sure, but from my first impressions… this is definitely Bubby (Nicholas Hope) in the latest Aldi commercial,' the original poster wrote. 

The bizarre film, centres around Bubby, who lives in a squalid house with his abusive mother.

He has never left the house, with his mother convincing him that the outside air is toxic.

However, one day, he escapes and, armed only with phrases he mimics from others, he embarks on a dark journey through the streets of Adelaide where he experiences exploitation, violence and accidental fame as a nihilistic rock singer. 

The film, which featured explicit scenes of incestuous sex, was also the subject of much controversy upon its release.

Many critics at the time warned the 'easily shocked' to avoid the film due to its depictions of rape, murder and public nudity. 

A coalition of animal rights groups in Italy urged a boycott of the film, as well as Australian products, due to scenes that depicted cruelty to cats.

It was also censored in the UK upon release, with the offending animal cruelty scenes removed.

Despite the controversy, the film was largely praised by critics, with many citing Nicholas' powerhouse performance.

It also took out a slew of AACTA awards in 1994, including best screenplay and director for Rolf de Heer and best actor for Nicholas.

The film also won the Grand Jury Prize at the 1993 Venice Film Festival.

The controversy also did not hurt Nicholas' career, with the actor appearing in more than 57 films including Scooby-Doo, The Invisible Man, Limbo and 2024's Kangaroo Island.

More recently, Nicholas starred in the Stan series Sunny Nights alongside Will Forte and the Disney+ series The Artful Dodger.