Moving stars

Ex-Home and Away soap star Chris Hemsworth had little chance of making the BRW Top Entertainers list before he starred in the Hollywood blockbuster superhero movie Thor

Movie stars have always been in abundance on the BRW Top Entertainers List but one actor who will re-enter the list in 2011 with a bang, highlights a continuing trend: Actors work in a global market and the big bucks are usually made outside of Australia. The actor in question (who will remain a secret until the list is released on December 15) hasn’t been on the list since 2006 but has hit the jackpot with his role in a top-rating US television series.

Not one of last year’s 16 actors made most of their pay in an Australian-based production.

Chris Hemsworth had little chance of making the list before he starred in the Hollywood blockbuster superhero movie Thor, released this year. Hemsworth was in Aussie soap favourite Home and Away as Kim Hyde before his breakthrough role.

Even for superstars such as Geoffrey Rush and Cate Blanchett, their humble origins in Australian theatre did not earn them global stardom (and earnings). Instead they had to go to America to make the big bucks.

Moving to the US is a risk for our actors as they have to start from scratch. It comes down to choosing between being a big fish in a small pond or a small fish (with a small chance of turning big) in the vast ocean.

Hugh Jackman is a perfect example. The highest earning actor on our list last year started his career by turning down an offer to be on the TV soap Neighbours to further master his trade at WAAPA (the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts) so that he could progress further. His investment paid off with his role as Wolverine in X-Men five years later in 1999 after stints in theatre. Jackman entered the BRW’s Top Entertainer’s ranks a year later.

Despite raking in millions, our Australian actors have not forgotten their roots, with many taking up roles in smaller budget Australian films. Most do them as passion projects.

But when it comes to entertaining (and often business in general), only those with an international presence take home the biggest pay cheques.

The BRW Top Entertainers List will be released in our Rich Summer issue on December 15.

Do you agree? Write and tell me your views.

BRW

Comments (0)