Big time actors who started their lives in Melbourne
THE Hemsworth brothers are the most famous Western Bulldogs supporters in the world, but here are some more big time actors you may have never realised were born in Melbourne.
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STAR of hit Marvel film Thor Chris Hemsworth and Hunger Games star brother Liam cheered on the Bulldogs on Saturday in their home town of Melbourne.
Perhaps the most famous people to have ever called Phillip Island home, they join the likes of Barry Humphries and Kylie Minogue as Melburnians who have made it to the world stage.
But they are not the only big time actors who were born in Melbourne. Here are some more stars you might not have known were home grown.
BEN MENDELSOHN
Known for his role as John Dagget in Dark Knight Rises and as “Pope” Cody in Animal Kingdom, Ben Mendelsohn was born in Melbourne and attended Eltham High after living in Europe.
His role as Danny Rayburn in Netflix series Bloodline earned him an Emmy in September.
Mendelsohn plays villain Orson Krennic in the upcoming Star Wars blockbuster Rogue One.
RADHA MITCHELL
Born in Melbourne and a graduate of St Michael’s Grammar, Radha Mitchell has acted in Hollywood films including Olympus Has Fallen opposite Gerard Butler and Man On Fire, which starred Denzel Washington.
Her TV credits include appearances on Neighbours, Blue Heelers and the NBC TV film Uprising.
ABBEY LEE
Abbey Lee, also know as Abbey Lee Kershaw was born in Melbourne and her father Kim Kershaw played for Richmond and Hawthorn in the late 70s and early 80s.
She appeared as one of Immortan Joe’s wives in blockbuster Mad Max Fury Road and as Sarah in The Neon Demon.
RYAN CORR
Made famous by his role in film romance Holding the Man, Ryan Corr has also been in Russell Crowe’s The Water Diviner with TV credits including Packed to the Rafters and Underbelly: The Golden Mile.
He was born in Melbourne in 1989 and acted in his youth, including in TV show The Sleepover Club.
ERIC BANA
Eric Bana cut his teeth on 90s sketch show Full Frontal and later the hit Australian film The Castle.
He has since acted in Black Hawk Down, Troy, Star Trek and Deliver Us From Evil.
He continues to live in Melbourne.
ISABEL LUCAS
Born in Melbourne, Isabel Lucas spent much of her childhood in Cairns before pursuing an acting career.
She appeared in Home And Away before landing roles in films including Transformers: Return of the Fallen, Daybreakers, Red Dawn and The Water Diviner.
CATE BLANCHETT
Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett grew up in Ivanhoe and attended Ivanhoe Girls’ Grammar before studying at NIDA.
She acted on stage in Australia before starting her film career, including in American war film Paradise Road in 1997.
She later acted in the Lord of the Rings series directed by Peter Jackson, won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in The Aviator in 2004 and later Best Actress for Blue Jasmine.
JESSE SPENCER
Before a career in film and TV, Jesse Spencer grew up in Melbourne where he attended school and Monash University before leaving study to pursue acting.
He appeared on Neighbours before reaching international fame as Dr Robert Chase on House MD and Lt Matthew Casey on Chicago Fire.
ANNA TORV
The star of TV shows such as Fringe, The Secret Life of Us and McLeod’s Daughters was born in Melbourne but grew up on the Gold Coast.
She also starred in the Australian political thriller series Secret City with film credits including The Book of Revelation and The Daughter.
ROBYN NEVIN
Robyn Nevin, known for roles in two Matrix films and The Gods of Egypt was born in Melbourne and later moved to Tasmania.
She began acting on TV in the 1950s and appeared in Australian favourite The Castle as a judge, and Bad Eggs starring Mick Molloy.
THOMAS M. WRIGHT
Born in Melbourne in 1983, Thomas M. Wright came to prominence as Johnno Mitcham in the TV series Top of the Lake.
Film credits include thriller Everest, in which he played mountain climber Michael Groom, colonial thriller Van Diemens Land and US TV series The Outsiders playing Deputy Sheriff Wade Houghton.
SULLIVAN STAPLETON
Sullivan Stapleton was enrolled in an acting agency at the age of eight in Melbourne, where he grew up. He began acting as a child in TV ads.
He has appeared in TV shows including Blue Heelers, McLeod’s Daughters, Neighbours and The Secret Life of Us, and later the lead role of Kurt Weller in international hit Blindspot.
His films include 300: Rise of an Empire, Gangster Squad and Animal Kingdom.
BELLA HEATHCOTE
Bella Heathcote, born in Melbourne at educated in Glen Iris, acted on Neighbours before breaking into film with Acolytes in 2008.
She later acted in Beneath Hill 60 in 2010 and dark comedy Pride and Prejudice and Zombies released this year.
Heathcote has the role of Leila Williams in upcoming erotic thriller Fifty Shades Darker.
EMILY BROWNING
The star of Sucker Punch, Sleeping Beauty and A Series of Unfortunate Events attended Eltham High before starting her acting career.
She was elevated to the world stage in Ghost Ship (2002) when she played ghost girl Katie Harwood. She played Cassia in disaster film Pompeii and has acted in Australian films including The Man Who Sued God and Ned Kelly.
RACHEL GRIFFITHS
Although born in Melbourne, Rachel Griffiths spent her childhood in Queensland where she developed an interest in acting.
After success in Australia with Muriel’s Wedding in 1994, followed by TV shows Secrets and Six Feet Under, she went on to act in Me My Best Friend’s Wedding as Samantha Newhouse, Myself I, Blow and Saving Mr Banks.
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