Thunder From Down Under
by Emily Feimster
Australians and New Zealanders have been popular entertainers for quite some time - but never have so many been dominating Hollywood as they are now. If these folks aren't getting nominated for major awards, they're bringing in big bucks at the box office. So throw another shrimp on the barbie, mate, because Tinseltown's thunder from down under is bringing the heat!
One Aussie making headlines of late is Heath Ledger, who has already been nominated for numerous awards including a Golden Globe for his portrayal of a conflicted gay cowboy in "Brokeback Mountain." It's been a long time coming for Ledger, who left his small town after high school and moved to Sydney with 69 cents in his pocket to pursue acting. Once he moved to the United States, he became known as a teen hunk for movies like "10 Things I Hate About You." How he didn't win an award for that, we'll never know. It wasn't until starring alongside Gibson in "The Patriot" before people finally began to take him seriously.
This year also happens to be a big time for Ledger's ex-girlfriend, Naomi Watts, who is turning heads with her high profile role in "King Kong." Although the blonde bombshell was born in England, she grew up in Australia where she met her best friend Nicole Kidman at an audition for a bikini commercial when they were 14. Kidman went on to win an Oscar for "The Hours" and remains one of the world's most famous celebrities, but for Watts it hasn't been so easy. She made a home in Kidman's shadow before finally gaining respect with "Mulholland Dr." Watts then proved her star power after "The Ring" brought in over $100 million at the box office and now "Kong" has made her a bonafide movie star.
Yes, Watts can thank New Zealand's most well-known director, Peter Jackson, for casting her in his big budgeted movie. Jackson, who started filming at the age of eight when he was given an 8mm camera, has brought much attention to his homeland by filming all of his movies there. Can we say "The Lord of the Rings"?
However, nothing draws more attention than the blokes who hail from these places. There's certainly no shortage of hunks when it comes to the Gold Coast's golden boys. Hugh Jackman was already quite the leading man in Hollywood when he decided to take a break for Broadway. He won the Tony for "The Boy From Oz" and now he's back with nine - yes, NINE! - movies on the way. Then there's Russell Crowe, who was born in New Zealand but moved to Australia when he was four. He may not be as popular with hotel employees but there's no denying he's a good actor.
Eric Bana, whose world wide fame began with "Hulk" and "Troy," has moved to the forefront with his starring role in Steven Spielberg's "Munich." He's one of many Australian actors who seasoned their skills at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney, including Oscar winner Cate Blanchett and "Lost's" Emilie de Ravin.
Of course our other favorite Aussie women include Toni Collette, who recently starred with Cameron Diaz in the movie "In Her Shoes" and let's not forget her co-star from the hilarious "Muriel's Wedding," Rachel Griffiths. Also, the beautiful Portia de Rossi, who has recently become more famous for being Ellen DeGeneres' girlfriend than for her role on "Arrested Development."
We certainly can't leave out two of Australia's veteran actors. There's Geoffrey Rush, who won critical acclaim for "The Life and Death of Peter Sellers," is currently in "Munich," and is soon to reprise his role in "Pirates of the Caribbean 2." And also "Without A Trace's" Anthony LaPaglia, who many think is from New York. With all of the hot, young Aussie actors keeping their native accents, LaPaglia says he regrets having dropped his.
Other famous folks to hail from Australia are model Elle MacPherson, actor Sam Neill, Olivia Newton-John, who was born in England but grew up down under, veteran actress Judy Davis, "General Hospital's" Ingo Rademacher, Guy Pearce, and the founding members of INXS, who have made a big comeback this year with their reality show "Rock Star."
Those others who come from New Zealand include the Oscar-nominated Keisha Castle-Hughes, who was actually born in Australia, model Rachel Hunter, and "Xena: Princess Warrior's" Lucy Lawless.
It definitely doesn't get any better than these folks. So if you can't hear their thunder coming from down under then clearly you're not listening.
by Emily Feimster
Australians and New Zealanders have been popular entertainers for quite some time - but never have so many been dominating Hollywood as they are now. If these folks aren't getting nominated for major awards, they're bringing in big bucks at the box office. So throw another shrimp on the barbie, mate, because Tinseltown's thunder from down under is bringing the heat!
One Aussie making headlines of late is Heath Ledger, who has already been nominated for numerous awards including a Golden Globe for his portrayal of a conflicted gay cowboy in "Brokeback Mountain." It's been a long time coming for Ledger, who left his small town after high school and moved to Sydney with 69 cents in his pocket to pursue acting. Once he moved to the United States, he became known as a teen hunk for movies like "10 Things I Hate About You." How he didn't win an award for that, we'll never know. It wasn't until starring alongside Gibson in "The Patriot" before people finally began to take him seriously.
This year also happens to be a big time for Ledger's ex-girlfriend, Naomi Watts, who is turning heads with her high profile role in "King Kong." Although the blonde bombshell was born in England, she grew up in Australia where she met her best friend Nicole Kidman at an audition for a bikini commercial when they were 14. Kidman went on to win an Oscar for "The Hours" and remains one of the world's most famous celebrities, but for Watts it hasn't been so easy. She made a home in Kidman's shadow before finally gaining respect with "Mulholland Dr." Watts then proved her star power after "The Ring" brought in over $100 million at the box office and now "Kong" has made her a bonafide movie star.
Yes, Watts can thank New Zealand's most well-known director, Peter Jackson, for casting her in his big budgeted movie. Jackson, who started filming at the age of eight when he was given an 8mm camera, has brought much attention to his homeland by filming all of his movies there. Can we say "The Lord of the Rings"?
However, nothing draws more attention than the blokes who hail from these places. There's certainly no shortage of hunks when it comes to the Gold Coast's golden boys. Hugh Jackman was already quite the leading man in Hollywood when he decided to take a break for Broadway. He won the Tony for "The Boy From Oz" and now he's back with nine - yes, NINE! - movies on the way. Then there's Russell Crowe, who was born in New Zealand but moved to Australia when he was four. He may not be as popular with hotel employees but there's no denying he's a good actor.
Eric Bana, whose world wide fame began with "Hulk" and "Troy," has moved to the forefront with his starring role in Steven Spielberg's "Munich." He's one of many Australian actors who seasoned their skills at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney, including Oscar winner Cate Blanchett and "Lost's" Emilie de Ravin.
Of course our other favorite Aussie women include Toni Collette, who recently starred with Cameron Diaz in the movie "In Her Shoes" and let's not forget her co-star from the hilarious "Muriel's Wedding," Rachel Griffiths. Also, the beautiful Portia de Rossi, who has recently become more famous for being Ellen DeGeneres' girlfriend than for her role on "Arrested Development."
We certainly can't leave out two of Australia's veteran actors. There's Geoffrey Rush, who won critical acclaim for "The Life and Death of Peter Sellers," is currently in "Munich," and is soon to reprise his role in "Pirates of the Caribbean 2." And also "Without A Trace's" Anthony LaPaglia, who many think is from New York. With all of the hot, young Aussie actors keeping their native accents, LaPaglia says he regrets having dropped his.
Other famous folks to hail from Australia are model Elle MacPherson, actor Sam Neill, Olivia Newton-John, who was born in England but grew up down under, veteran actress Judy Davis, "General Hospital's" Ingo Rademacher, Guy Pearce, and the founding members of INXS, who have made a big comeback this year with their reality show "Rock Star."
Those others who come from New Zealand include the Oscar-nominated Keisha Castle-Hughes, who was actually born in Australia, model Rachel Hunter, and "Xena: Princess Warrior's" Lucy Lawless.
It definitely doesn't get any better than these folks. So if you can't hear their thunder coming from down under then clearly you're not listening.
