Margot Robbie, Geoffrey Rush and Miranda Otto: Qld actors finding success in US

Queensland has made a huge impact in Hollywood, with actors from the Sunshine State appearing in some of the biggest movies of recent years. We take a look at seven of our successful film and TV stars. SEE THE LIST

Queensland has serious star power. From humble beginnings in Neighbours and Home Away to Hollywood blockbusters, Queensland’s actors are making their mark on the US.

With commercial and critical successes such as The Wolf of Wall Street, The King’s Speech and Maleficent, actors hailing from the Sunshine State have put Australia on the world stage. We have taken a look at some of our most talented acting exports and their road to success.

Margot Robbie. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

Margot Robbie

Dalby, Queensland

You may know this star from …

The Wolf of Wall Street

Suicide Squad

Mary Queen of Scots

It was only 15 years ago when Margot Robbie first graced Australian televisions as Donna Freedman on Neighbours. Originally cast as an obsessive fan of character Ty Harper (Dean Geyer), Robbie won the hearts of Australians after a rollercoaster set of storylines, including an affair, romance and the loss of her on-screen husband. After leaving Neighbours Robbie moved to the US and starred in Pan Am before scoring the role of a lifetime as Naomi Lapaglia in the Wolf of Wall Street. Robbie will be depicting Barbie in an upcoming live-action film set to release later this year.

Clare Holt. Picture: Clare Holt Instagram

Claire Holt

Brisbane, Queensland

You may know this star from …

The Originals

Pretty Little Liars

The Vampire Diaries

Claire Holt rose to fame as Emma Gilbert, a teenager with the ability to magically transform into a mermaid when exposed to water, in H20: Just Add Water. Holt left the series in its third season to pursue roles in the US which was where she transformed into vampire Rebekah Mikaelson. After finding success in The Vampire Diaries, the character appeared in both The Originals and Legacies. Holt is currently focusing on her family and a new online blog.

Geoffrey Rush. Picture: VALERIE MACON / AFP

Geoffrey Rush

Toowoomba, Queensland

You may know this star from …

Shakespeare in Love

The King’s Speech

Quills

Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush has been nominated for an incredible 128 awards, including 47 wins over a career that has spanned four decades. With roles such Hector Barbossa in the Pirates of the Carribean series, the Narrator in Minions and Lionel Logue in The King’s Speech, Rush excels at every role he takes on. Rush is set to appear in Verona Spies with Emma Roberts, with the movie currently in pre-production.

Miranda Otto. Picture: Valerie Macon / AFP

Miranda Otto

Brisbane, Queensland

You may know this star from …

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

Homeland

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Archie Comics fans and Sabrina stans would probably recognise Miranda Otto as Zelda Spellman, the High Priestess for the Church of the Night in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Otto has also appeared as Eowyn in The Lord of the Rings back in the early 2000s. Otto will be reprising her role in the animated film Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, twenty-three years after she first voiced Eowyn in The Return of the King.

Ben Lawson. Picture: Monica Schipper/Getty Images

Ben Lawson

Brisbane, Queensland

You may know this star from …

Firefly Lane

Bombshell

The Good Place

Australians could recognise Ben Lawson as the controversial character Frazer Yeats on Neighbours. After leaving Neighbours in 2008, Lawson took on a variety of guest roles in sitcoms such as Modern Family, Don’t Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 and 2 Broke Girls. Lawson more recently appeared in political drama Designated Survivor and comedy The Good Place. Lawson played Lachlan Murdoch in the Oscar award-winning movie Bombshell in 2019 and now stars in Netflix drama, Firefly Lane as Johnny Ryan.

Brenton Thwaites. Picture: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

Brenton Thwaites

Cairns, Queensland

You may know this star from …

Titans

Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar’s Revenge

Maleficent

Starring in what could almost be a rite of passage for Aussies in the TV and film industry, Brenton Thwaites found success in Home And Away as Stu Henderson in 2012. It wasn’t long until Thwaites found success in US blockbusters, such as with Disney film Maleficent, and Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar’s Revenge. Thwaites now plays Dick Grayson in HBO Max series, Titans.

Nathan Jones. Picture: AAP Image/Paul Miller

Nathan Jones

Gold Coast, Queensland

You may know this star from …

Mortal Kombat

Spiderhead

SmackDown! (Wrestler)

Despite crafting a successful career as a WWE professional wrestler, Nathan Jones has in recent years made the move to feature films. Jones has made recent appearances in Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw, Mortal Kombat and Spiderhead, with at least two films in pre-production set to feature Jones.