Rush was born on July 6, 1951 in the Australian rural community of Toowoomba. He was educated at the University of Queensland in Queensland, Australia, majoring in English. Realising a passion for the performing arts, Rush attended the Jacques Lecoq School of Mime, Movement, and Theater in Paris, France.

Rush was a stage actor for over twenty-three years, before concentrating on his film career. It was while starring in an Australian stage production, Benefactors, that he met his wife, Jane.

Rush has appeared in 22 feature films and TV series:

%Frida Kahlo (2001)
%Lantana (2001)
*Tailor of Panama, The (2001) - Harry Pendel
#Magic Pudding, The (2000) (voice) - Bunyip Bluegum
*!Quills (2000) - The Marquis de Sade

*House on Haunted Hill (1999) - Steven H. Price
*Mystery Men (1999) - Casanova Frankenstein
*!Shakespeare in Love (1998) - Philip Henslowe
*Elizabeth (1998) - Sir Francis Walsingham
*Misérables, Les (1998) - Javert
*Little Bit of Soul, A (1998) - Godfrey Usher
*Frontier (1997) (mini) TV Series - Soldier Administrator, David Collins
#Oscar and Lucinda (1997) (voice) - Narrator
*Mercury (1996) TV Series - Bill Wyatt
*Twisted Tales (1996) TV Series - Harry Chisholm
*Call Me Sal (1996) - Wal
*Children of the Revolution (1996) -Zachary Welch
*!!Shine (1996) - David as an Adult
*Dad and Dave: On Our Selection (1995) - Dave Rudd
*Twelfth Night (1987) - Sir Andrew Aguecheek
#Starstruck (1982) - Floor Manager
#Hoodwink (1981) - Detective 1

* - Indicates a character role
# - Indicates a minor or non character role
% - Indicates a film yet to be completed
! - Indicates Academy Award Nomination !! - Indicates Academy Award Win

Rush's must notable achievements to date include having won a Best Actor Academy Award for playing the pianist, David Helfgott in Shine and having been nominated for two other Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor (Shakespeare in Love) and Best Actor (Quills)^.

^Winner still to be announced.

Geoffrey Rush lives with his wife, Jane Menelaus and two children, Angelica (8), James(5).