Elsa Pataky on husband Chris Hemsworth: ‘He’s my boss’

As she prepares for the premiere of her new film, Elsa Pataky reflects on what she gave up for her kids and husband Chris Hemsworth, and how she returns to Hollywood a hero.

While Chris Hemsworth spent more than a decade establishing himself as one of the world’s most bankable movie stars, his wife Elsa Pataky kept the home fires burning as she prioritised their three children over her own career. But with three films set for release this year, the Spanish model and actor is every bit the hero her husband knows her to be. Photographed by Stellar in her adopted home town of Byron Bay, Pataky says she’s now ready to prove to her kids how their mum can “save the world, too.”

While participating in a pony showjumping event with her daughter India, Elsa Pataky got a phone call from Russell Crowe.

The Academy Award-winner said he was considering the Spanish actor and model for Poker Face, the upcoming and much-hyped movie he’s both directing and starring in. But to make sure she was right for the role, he needed to see a video of her dealing cards – immediately.

Pataky knew a key part in a gritty, prestige drama could only do good things for her career, so she had to think on her feet – quickly. “I couldn’t leave,” Pataky tells Stellar while once again surrounded by her beloved animals at our cover shoot.

“So I had to convince him over the phone that I could. I asked a friend to buy a pack of cards from the local petrol station, as I had to help India prepare.

“When I got the cards, I took a video of myself shuffling and dealing while sitting on a fence, watching India compete at the same time. When Russell watched the video, he was very impressed – and I got the part.”

Elsa Pataky: “it was really important for me to be there for my kids.” Picture: Chris Ferguson.

Choosing between family and work is all too familiar for many mothers, and being married to Thor, the God of Thunder himself, Australian actor Chris Hemsworth, doesn’t make you immune.

When she became a mum – first to India, now 10, and then twin boys Tristan and Sasha, now eight – Pataky, who at the time was best known for playing agent Elena Neves in the Fast & Furious movies, put her career on hold while Hemsworth went on to become one of Hollywood’s biggest stars.

“I was really dedicated to my kids,” she explains. “I took a couple of jobs when they were little and I was feeling really guilty and not feeling good about myself, because personally, I didn’t spend much time with my parents when I was little. So it was really important for me to be there for my kids.”

So Pataky opted out of 12-hour shoot days in favour of school drop-offs at the family’s home base in Byron Bay – even though she was conscious that, in her age-obsessed industry, certain opportunities might be passing her by.

“I knew what I was giving up and in that way it was a really difficult decision, but I thought at least my kids will be proud of me for the mother I am.”

As it turns out, Hollywood was happy to wait for her. And the industry’s patience is paying off. On June 3, Pataky takes the lead in the Netflix thriller Interceptor, the film directorial debut of bestselling Australian novelist Matthew Reilly.

She’s also set to appear in the upcoming cinematic retelling of the opera Carmen, directed by Benjamin Millepied – Natalie Portman’s husband and a former ballet star who choreographed the Oscar-winning 2010 film Black Swan – in a role that gave Pataky the chance to flex her Spanish language skills.

And when it releases, Poker Face will find her on the big screen alongside her brother-in-law Liam Hemsworth.

As Interceptor’s Captain JJ Collins, a soldier charged with saving the world against a nuclear missile threat, Pataky has, at the age of 45, landed her dream role.

“Growing up, I was a tomboy. I always wanted to compete with the boys, and beat them,” she says, adding that the military themes appealed to her because, before her modelling and acting career took off, she studied journalism with the aim of becoming a war correspondent.

Most importantly, she wanted to play a hero for her three children. “I was really hungry, in a way, to show them that the time away from them was worth it,” she says. “That their mum could save the world, too!”

Elsa Pataky: “My kids will be proud of me for the mother I am.” Picture: Chris Ferguson.

Elsa Pataky: “I knew what I was giving up.” Picture: Chris Ferguson.

Granted, the role would have been easier a few years ago, she jokes. Pataky trained for up to eight hours a day for six months, and learnt more than 800 moves for the fight scenes.

“It should have [come] when I was younger, but I’ve done a lot of exercise in my life, so I embraced the challenge,” she says.

“I was determined to do the majority of stunts myself, which came as a surprise to the cast and crew. It was thanks to my amazing stunt double Hayley Wright and stunt co-ordinator Ingrid Kleinig, who made this possible. They taught me how to fight.”

Indeed, after filming one intense scene in which Collins swings across monkey bars, Pataky swears that one of her arms is now slightly longer than the other.

Even so, “I had something to prove to myself – that I could do it and to inspire my friends that we can do it,” she insists.

“Sometimes [as] mums, we get into this thing where we say we’re tired because we have so many things on our plate, but I wanted to show myself how physically strong I could be. It’s amazing what we can achieve when we challenge ourselves.”

What makes the Interceptor role even more interesting is that she collaborated with her husband of 11 years, who signed on as executive producer after Pataky showed him the script.

“He’s my boss,” she says with a laugh. “But it was fun. He really wanted me to do this role as he knew how much I would enjoy it. It took us from being parents to creative collaborators on a film project – which was a really different experience.”

Although Hemsworth, 38, has always pushed her to take on more parts, Pataky says he also acknowledges the sacrifices she’s made.

“He’s said to me how difficult it must have been to put aside my career, in a way, to be with the kids,” she reveals. “He’s been a major help in every way, just to get back to work and helping me because he knows how much I love it.”

Elsa Pataky on husband Chris Hemsworth: “He’s my boss.” Picture: Chris Ferguson.

Aside from her family and work, Pataky loves horses, and enjoys finding ways to bring them up in conversation. The passion for riding has transferred to her daughter, who has been on horses since she was two.

Together, the mother-daughter team travels to events in their horse float, bringing along a tent for sleeping overnight.

“She talks to me about how nervous she is to compete sometimes and I say, ‘Don’t worry, I’m nervous, too,’” Pataky says. “It’s so beautiful to experience this together.”

India has also inherited her mother’s trademark determination. “Her horse is a bit stubborn and she gets frustrated and angry when it doesn’t jump,” Pataky concedes. “But it’s these moments that I know are important for her.

“As parents, you can’t help but want to make things easier for our kids, but I try to tell her we have to train more and work harder.”

The determination that has resulted in a career renaissance also applies to broader issues. With the spotlight on her, Pataky has become an eco-warrior, often championing environmental issues and advocating in her native Spanish.

“I feel more comfortable talking in my own language,” she says.

After the onslaught of natural disasters in Byron Bay this past summer, she’s becoming more vocal here, too.

“Witnessing the floods has been devastating,” she adds, explaining that while her hillside home was safe, rising flood waters cut off road access for some time.

“It has been so clear to me that our way of life has to change. We have to just do something about [climate change] really quickly if we want to protect the environment to allow our kids to have a better future.”

Pataky involved the children in local clean-up efforts so they could witness the devastation and comprehend what residents had lost. While it was heartbreaking, the community spirit reaffirmed her decision to raise her family in the area.

“People wanted to make things better for people they didn’t even know,” she reflects. “And being all together, we did feel like we were an army.”

Elsa Pataky stars on the cover of this Sunday’s Stellar. Picture: Chris Ferguson.

Pataky might relish her chance to play a hero onscreen, but spend time talking to her and it’s clear who inspires her. “My heroes are mums who work long hours and have to deal with all the needs of their kids,” she says.

“They’re the real heroes.”