Share and Follow
For Chris Hemsworth, returning to his roots in Australia feels like a holiday every day. The 42-year-old actor, best known for his roles in Hollywood blockbusters, has found solace away from the bustling scene of Los Angeles.
Relocating to the Australian Outback was a transformative decision for Hemsworth. Reflecting on his time in Los Angeles, he admits he didn’t quite enjoy the lifestyle there. The “Crime 101” star shares that dealing with the relentless paparazzi and the superficial allure of city life prompted him to move his family to a serene farm in Australia, where he spent his childhood.
“It all started when my boys were born,” Hemsworth recounted on an episode of “SmartLess.” “We had set up a life in LA, but it just wasn’t fulfilling. None of the filming happened there; we were always shooting somewhere else.”
He further explained the constant challenge of returning home only to face the intrusive presence of paparazzi, which made the decision to leave LA all the more appealing.
Now settled in Australia, Hemsworth shares a tranquil life with his wife Elsa Pataky and their three children. The couple’s whirlwind romance began in 2010, culminating in marriage just three months after their relationship became official.
The two eventually moved the family back to Australia onto a “big farm,” where their three kids have room to explore.
“You know, when you come back from work, you wanna go on a holiday? Like coming home for me is – it feels like a holiday. We have big farm and horses and motorbikes and surf,” the “Thor” star explained.
Hemsworth and his brothers, Liam Hemsworth and Luke Hemsworth, grew up about 20 minutes outside of Melbourne. He recalled the endless adventures he had with his brothers and explained what sparked his interest in acting.
“We lived about 20 minutes from, like, the main sort of suburban areas in Melbourne up in the hills,” Hemsworth said. “And the nearest neighbor was a kilometer or two away.”
“It was just all bush land and rainforest sort of set up around us,” he added. “And so we would just [have] … adventures outdoors and playing different characters. And I think that’s, to be honest, where the sort of intrigue or interest into that transportation into another.”
Until he found his footing in the acting world, Hemsworth revealed he actually repaired breast milk pumps as his first job working for Fisher & Paykel – an Australian manufacturer of home appliances. The actor explained the company would rent out the press pumps to pharmacies.
“And they would come back to us, and I’d have to repair them when, like the little belt, the motor belt would break. You’d also have to clean all the dried milk that was on them,” Hemsworth recalled. “So, I’d have a toothbrush and spray and wipe and – that was my first job.”
Hemsworth eventually began acting in the early 2000s, landing a handful of small roles in Australian TV shows. Eventually, he landed his big break in the long-running soap opera “Home and Away.”
The role that changed everything for Hemsworth was “Cabin in the Woods.” Due to studio delays, the film – shot in 2009 – wasn’t released until after he had gained global recognition as “Thor” in Marvel’s Cinematic Universe. His 2011 movie led to more Marvel appearances, including, “The Avengers,” “Thor: The Dark World,” “Avengers: Endgame” and recently “Thor: Love and Thunder.”
Hemsworth was honored with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 2024, giving his wife a special shout-out during his acceptance speech.
“I want to say thank you to my beautiful wife, who has been here for my entire career basically by my side, endlessly encouraging and supportive,” he said. “And it doesn’t get lost on me that she put aside her own dreams in order to support mine and, again, [I am] forever in your debt.”
“The fact [is] that nothing that I do, any of these moments, these special occasions and events, none of it is special without you by my side. I love you.”