Over 20 Years of Effort by Chris Hemsworth Part 1
Chris Hemsworth was once underestimated in Australian television, but he gradually established himself in Hollywood.
The actor made a mark at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival with his role as the antagonist Dementus in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga directed by George Miller. Also in May, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
In his acceptance speech, Hemsworth stated: “Like many actors, I drove to auditions in Hollywood and saw posters for movies I wished I could be a part of. Many times, I wondered if I could succeed, thinking everything was just a figment of my imagination. But standing here, I am grateful for what I have achieved.” Before gaining recognition from Hollywood audiences, the actor struggled to find his footing through various Australian television projects. Hemsworth’s first acting job came in 2002 with the film Guinevere Jones, where he played Arthur and appeared in two episodes. He later starred in the series Neighbors and one episode of Marshall Law. A year later, he participated in an episode of The Saddle Club.
In 2004, the artist auditioned for Robbie Hunter in the series Home and Away, which has over 8,000 episodes, but was not cast. Instead, the crew allowed him to portray Kim Hyde, appearing in 171 episodes until 2007. His role in this second-longest-running Australian television series helped Hemsworth gain public recognition, but he was not acknowledged by industry professionals. He stated that he was not considered a true actor because the long-running project dispersed each artist’s appearances, and only a few who remained with the series became stars.
After leaving Home and Away, Hemsworth moved to the United States in search of new opportunities. In his early days in Los Angeles, he faced numerous challenges adapting to life and faced rejections from producers. However, his persistence led to his selection for the film Star Trek (2009), marking the beginning of his career in Hollywood. He played George Kirk, the father of James T. Kirk. The role was initially offered to Matt Damon, who declined.
Although Hemsworth only appeared in the early segments of the film, his portrayal of George Kirk left a significant impression on industry professionals. The project was a box office success, grossing nearly $386 million. In the same year, he starred as Kale Garrity in A Perfect Getaway. Despite the film receiving mixed reviews, Hemsworth was praised as one of the few bright spots in the project. Collider noted that the actor fully embodied the character, expressing emotions through his eyes and voice.
