Big names who won the 2010s
Some celebrities came out of nowhere to crush the decade; others started famous and ended up infamous. Here’s what some big household names were doing in 2010, and where they are now.
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Ten years is a decent chunk of time in anybody’s life: enough to make or break a reputation. Here’s a snapshot of what some of the names that made news this decade were doing in 2010, and what they’re doing now.
Kevin Rudd
2010
Prime Minister, until June 24. Forced to surrender the Labor leadership to Julia Gillard when a majority of his colleagues turned against him: the first time a first-term Prime Minister had ever been challenged. After the August 21 election he became Foreign Minister.
Now
President of the Asia Society Policy Institute, based in New York.
Lady Gaga
2010
Named one of the most influential people in the world by Time; won 8 awards at the MTV Video Music Awards while wearing the infamous ‘meat dress’.
Now
Won three Grammy Awards plus a Golden Globe and Oscar for her duet with Bradley Cooper, Shallow. Split from fiance Christian Carino. Ongoing residency in Las Vegas.
Chris Hemsworth
2010
Filmed Thor, the role that would be his breakthrough when it was released in 2011. Married Elsa Pataky.
Now
Second on Forbes’ list of highest-earning actors in Hollywood with earnings of $76.4 million. Tourism Australian ambassador. Three kids. Currently filming Thor: Love and Thunde r, in which he will play the superhero for the ninth time.
Scott Morrison
2010
MP for Cook. Shadow minister for immigration and citizenship.
Now
Prime Minister. Pulled off an unexpected election win in May that defied every national opinion poll. Has been hailed for winning the trust of Donald Trump, earning Australia concessions from otherwise punishing US trade sanctions.
Boris Johnson
2010
Mayor of London; columnist for the UK Telegraph and frequent guest on current affairs chat shows.
Now
Prime Minister of Great Britain from July 22, after defeating Jeremy Hunt for the Tory leadership. Pledged to deliver Brexit by October 31 but failed. Took the UK to the polls and thumped Labor’s Jeremy Corbyn.
George Pell
2010
Archbishop of Sydney, known for his hardline stances against abortion, homosexuality, atheism and climate change.
Now
Currently serving a maximum six-year term for the sexual abuse of two choirboys while he was the Archbishop of Melbourne in the 1990s. Awaiting High Court appeal, which is expected to be heard in March 2020.
Tones & I
2010
Aged 10, the future performer was growing up on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.
Now
Her song Dance Monkey soared to the top of the charts in 27 countries, stayed atop the ARIA chart for a record-breaking 16 consecutive weeks, and earned the former busker four ARIA awards.
Meghan Markle
2010
The aspiring actress appeared in two films: Get Him To The Greek and Remember Me. (Her breakthrough role in Suits did not come until 2011.)
Now
Now Duchess of Sussex, she married Prince Harry in 2018 and has endured a sometimes bumpy road of fame ever since. Gave birth to son Archie in May.
Donald Trump
2010
The star of The Apprentice and The Fabulous World of Golf gave his first statements about a possible political career, telling Fox News in October that he was considering making a presidential run in 2012.
Now
After a stunning upset victory in 2016, the US President is aiming for a second term in the White House as he fights impeachment proceedings for reportedly holding back US aid to Ukraine.
Adele
2010
Worked on the sophomore album that would turn her into a global superstar. 21, released in January 2011, contained the hits Someone Like You and Rolling In The Deep.
Now
The world waits for the Oscar and Grammy winning performer’s fourth studio album, expected imminently.
Kim Kardashian
2010
With the fourth season of Keeping Up With The Kardashians on air, the reality TV star supplemented her profile from with appearances on The Apprentice, a pop video and various marketing deals.
Now
Married to Kanye West since 2014, the couple welcomed their fourth child, son Psalm, in May. Quite possibly the world’s most photographed woman, Kardashian has been active in advocating for the rights of prisoners and is undertaking legal training.
Mark Zuckerberg
2010
Named Time magazine’s person of the year for “connecting more than half a billion people . and for changing how we all live our lives”. The story of Facebook’s beginning was told in the movie The Social Network, released in October.
Now
With an estimated worth of $74 billion, Facebook’s Chief Executive Officer is facing increasing criticism for the site’s handling of private information and lack of control over extreme content.
Julian Assange
2010
The Wikileaks founder published a massive tranche of information leaked by US military source Bradley (now Chelsea) Manning. Travelled to Sweden and had the sexual encounters that later ended with rape accusations. Named the readers’ choice for Time’s 2010 person of the year.
Now
Seven years claiming asylum within the Ecuadorean embassy in London came to an abrupt end in April. Assange is now serving a 50-week sentence in Belmarsh prison for bail offences, and faces extradition to the US. His supporters say his health is in rapid decline.
Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar
2010
Eight years into their joint business venture, the Atlassian founders raise $60 million in venture capital fundraising.
Now
Atlassian is now valued at more than $26 billion. Farquhar and Cannon-Brookes are regularly quoted as leaders in Australian business thinking.
Ash Barty
2010
Aged 14, the future World Champion starts her professional career at an event in Ipsiwch.
Now
One of Australia’s new generation of sporting heroes, Barty won her first grand slam event in June, taking out the French Open, and soon after ascended to the number one rank in international women’s tennis.
Margot Robbie
2010
The Gold Coast-born actress is in her third year of playing Donna Freedman on Neighbours. She announces she will be leaving the series in 2011 to pursue roles in Hollywood.
Now
It’s been another year of success for Robbie, with acclaimed roles in Once Upon a Time . in Hollywood, and a BAFTA nomination for best actress for Mary Queen of Scots. Next up: a starring role in Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn.
Emilia Clarke
2010
Aged 24, the London based actress notches up just her third screen appearance in the TV movie Triassic Attack.
Now
Arguably the breakout star of what was arguably the biggest TV show of all time, Game of Thrones, Clarke is currently appearing in the rom-com Last Christmas.
Jacqui Lambie
2010
Aged 39, the future Senator has revealed that in this period of her life, she struggled with depression, alcohol abuse and an addiction to painkillers. She had attempted suicide in 2009.
Now
Lambie returned to the Senate this year to reclaim the seat she first won in 2013 (as part of the Palmer United Party), reclaimed in 2016 (representing the Jacquie Lambie Netowrk), and was forced to relinquish in 2017 owing to dual citizenship issues. Her unique style of politics has made her a household name, while her balance of power position has made her vote hugely important in the Senate.
Craig Challen and Richard Harris
2010
Having met in at a diving conference in 2005, Richard “Harry” Harris was working as an anaesthetist in Adelaide and Craig Challen ran a network of veterinary clinics in Western Australia.
Now
Following on from their rescue of the Wild Boars soccer team from a flooded cave in Thailand, the long-time friends were jointly made Australians of the Year and have just released an account of the rescue, called Against All Odds.
Prince Andrew
2010
As Britain’s special representative for trade and investment, Prince Andrew (who is at the time fourth in line to the throne) is embroiled in scandal when his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson is secretly filmed by the News of the World offering a reporter posing as an Indian businessman access to him for £500,000 ($A942,000).
Now
Accused of having sex with a 17-year-old girl who was kept in sexual slavery by the now deceased paedophile businessman Jeffrey Epstein, the prince has been relieved of his royal duties and faces an uncertain future.
Oscar Pistorius
2010
Nicknamed the “Blade Runner”, the South African sprinter unveils an astonishing ambition: to go one better than his hat-trick of gold medals in the 2008 Beijing Paralympics by competing in the 2012 London Olympics.
Now
After a trial that transfixed the world – and various subsequent appeals – Pistorius is serving a sentence for the shooting murder of his then girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in the house they shared on Valentine’s Day in 2013. Now aged 33, he will not be eligible for parole until at least 2023.
Pope Francis
2010
Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio – as he was then known – was the Archbishop of Buenos Aires.
Now
Now into the seventh year of his papacy, Pope Francis – who turns 83 this month – continues to make over the Catholic Church as a more inclusive and modern institution. The new film The Two Popes is set to increase interest in the Pontiff’s surprisingly liberal views.
Julia Gillard
2010
Deputy Prime Minister until June 24, and Prime Minister after challenging Kevin Rudd for Labor leadership. Led Labor to the polls in the August 21 election, and squeezed back into power in a minority government thanks to support from MPs Adam Bandt, Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor.
Now
Chair of both Beyond Blue, and the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at Kings College, London, the former Prime Minister is a global voice on education issues and women’s equality.
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