Hollywood in FNQ: All the celebs who have visited the region
FNQ has a history of welcoming A-list celebrities, from Presidents to pop stars. Find out which celebs have made the trip North over the years.
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Far North Queensland has proven to be a celebrity sighting hotspot lately, with Orlando Bloom, Katy Perry and Pete Davidson being spotted on numerous occasions around Cairns, Port Douglas and Mossman.
The region however is no stranger to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood A-listers, with celebs visiting the region in droves since the 80s.
Here is a complete list of all the big names who have visited FNQ over the years:
Orlando Bloom & Katy Perry
The Hollywood actor Orlando Bloom is currently in Far North Queensland for the filming of comedy movie Wizards! produced by the Brad Pitt’s company Plan B Entertainment.
Bloom is joined by pop star partner Katy Perry and their one-year-old daughter Daisy Dove, and are reportedly staying at Silky Oaks Lodge in Mossman.
The stars have been spotted shopping and dining in Port Douglas, going to the gym, and even attending a circus performance.
Pete Davidson
Comedian and SNL alumni Pete Davidson is also currently in FNQ filming Wizards! He has been spotted around Cairns City, notably at TimeZone arcade and Pullman Reef Hotel Casino. The comedian’s reality TV star girlfriend Kim Kardashian has not joined him in Australia, despite a Cairns cafe manager’s fake Kim Kardashian sighting being revealed as a hoax.
Baz Luhrmann
Legendary filmmaker Baz Luhrmann and daughter Lillian were spotted back in 2020 shopping in Oceana Walk Arcade in Cairns during a forced break in shooting of his newly released biopic Elvis due to Covid.
Will Smith
In late 2019, actor Will Smith was spotted in the Aboriginal community at Lockhart, almost 500km northwest of Cairns.
The Fresh Prince himself was photographed posing with a ground crew member at the Lockhart River Airport.
The image was posted to Facebook by Simon Butcher with the caption: “Dad yayii with Will Smith at Lockhart River airport this morning.”
It’s believed that Smith was in the region filming his Netflix documentary series — One Strange Rock.
The actor also visited Lizard Island in January 2018, sharing a photo of himself scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef with a spotted cod that was “a whole lot scarier in person”.
Ed Sheeran
Singer Ed Sheeran is without a doubt a huge fan of FNQ.
In December 2015, Sheeran enjoyed a boat tour of the Daintree River with his entourage yesterday, two days after his sellout show in Brisbane.
Just six months later, the singer was spotted holidaying in Port Douglas.
Kylie Minogue
Back in 2009, Aussie pop princess Kylie Minogue was spotted holidaying with ex-boyfriend Andres Velencoso in Port Douglas.
The couple stayed at the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, and were seen dining at the Nautilus restaurant, and boarding superyacht Galaxy 1.
Tom Hanks & Steven Spielberg
Tom Hanks travelling with his 11-year-old son, Truman, spent a sizeable chunk of time in Port Douglas in 2007 filming — The Pacific, a $120 million World War II mini series, which he co-produced with Steven Spielberg.
Rami Malek
Academy award winner Rami Malek also travelled to Port Douglas in 2007 to film The Pacific. He described a gruelling boot camp outside Port Douglas he undertook in preparation for his role as Private Merriell “Snafu” as “one of the toughest things he has ever been through”.
“At one point, they trained a Japanese army of actors – something I didn’t even know was going on – and they assaulted us, our regiment, in the middle of the night, at 3am,” he said.
“Now that will put the fear of death in you”.
Matthew McConaughey & Kate Hudson
In late 2006 to early 2007, acting duo Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson were in Port Douglas filming the big budget flick Fool’s Gold.
The filming coincided with McConaughey’s 37th birthday and the pair were spotted visiting the reef during the day, and partying with cast and crew at the infamous Iron Bar Hotel by night.
In 2021, McConaughey recounted on B105 the memorable advice he was given by Aussie divers when he encountered sharks while filming in FNQ.
“Australians have these great lines, like, ‘y’know, the Irukandji, it’s not poisonous mate, you just die from the pain.’ You’re like, ‘Oh great, thanks’” he said.
“But on sharks they said like, ‘don’t worry about it mate, you’re not on the menu.”
Keanu Reeves, Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston, Matt Damon, Drew Barrymore & Kiefer Sutherland
In 2002, Hollywood star Keanu Reeves threw a lavish New Year’s Eve party at Double Island resort, off the coast of Palm Cove.
The actor was in Australia in late 2001 filming the Matrix movies, when he rented out the entire resort, flying in 28 famous friends including Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston, Matt Damon, Drew Barrymore, and Kiefer Sutherland for a New Year’s Eve bash.
The ten day celebration cost a whopping $200,000, which included skydiving, jungle excursions, white water rafting, and a spectacular fireworks display.
In 2020, it was reported that Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston were in talks to buy the now dilapidated 16 hectare island currently owned by Chinese businessman Benny Wu, after rumours circulated of them rekindling their relationship.
Bill and Hillary Clinton
In 1996 US President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton chose Port Douglas as their only holiday stop on their Australian tour, staying at the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort.
The couple were photographed cradling a baby koala during their tour of Rainforest Habitat in Port Douglas.
On a return visit to Port Douglas on 11 September 2001, Bill Clinton was dining at a local restaurant Salsa’s, when he was advised of the 9/11 attacks.
He returned to the United States the following day.
Jerry Seinfeld
Comedian Jerry Seinfeld visited Port Douglas during his Australian tour in 1998, when he performed just two shows in Sydney and Melbourne.
During his time in FNQ, Seinfeld was photographed visiting the reef on a locally-operated dive boat.
Jerry Seinfeld returned to Australia in 2017 and told packed Qudos Bank Arena he’s “ready to get the hell out of Australia”.
![09 jun 1998. actor / comedian Jerry Seinfeld [on dive boat, 'Haba Dive.'] leaving Port Douglas, flanked by his minders / bodyguards Photo Campbell/Scott. headshot qld visit](https://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/b8a1b93357faedb078ca3e9c29213f19?width=650)
George Clooney, Sean Penn, Woody Harrelson, Adrien Brody, John Cusack, Jared Leto & John Travolta
The creme de la creme of the Hollywood actors, Sean Penn, Adrien Brody, George Clooney, John Cusack, Woody Harrelson, Jared Leto and John Travolta all spent extended periods of time in the Cairns Region and Douglas shire filming Thin Red Line in 1997.
The movie was predominantly filmed in the Daintree Rainforest and on Bramston Beach.
Originally published as Hollywood in FNQ: All the celebs who have visited the region
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