Hello, Hunky Hemsworth!

With the third Thor movie, Thor: Ragnarok set to open in just a few weeks, we turn our attention to the big, blond, easy-on-the eyes star – Chris Hemsworth.

- Jennifer F Netto

Before Hollywood’s interpretation, Thor, in Norse mythology, is a god of thunder, lightning and storms, and wields the fearsome hammer Mjölnir as his weapon. He is also a god of strength. So it seems absolutely fitting that the brawny, 6 foot 3 inch Chris Hemsworth was picked to play the Norse god. The first two Thor movies have since earned more than US$1 billion combined, catapulting Chris to global fame. Yes, he certainly seems worthy of wielding that picky hammer.

So what’s the god of thunder like at home, and what (torture) does he undergo to maintain that superb physique?

THE ACTUAL ANCESTRY

This son of Odin is actually the son of Craig and Leoni Hemsworth, who held professions in teaching and counselling. Chris was born in 1983 in Melbourne, Victoria and was raised in the outback of Australia. He is the middle child with an older brother, Luke, and a younger brother, Liam, who incidentally are both actors as well. He is married to Spanish actress Elsa Pataky (talk about stardom in the family!) and they have a daughter and twin sons.

HITTING THE BIG SCREENS

Chris began his acting career appearing as King Arthur in the series, Guinevere Jones. He then took on small parts in Neighbours, Marshall Law, The Saddle Club and Fergus McPhail. His big break came when he was cast on the long-running Australian soap opera, Home and Away. It was a show that followed the lives, trials and tribulations of residents in the fictional coastal town of Summer Bay. By the time Chris joined the cast, the series had helped launch the careers of Heath Ledger, Isla Fisher, Simon Baker and Naomi Watts, who were all series regulars before they made it big in Hollywood.