Chris Hemsworth reveals real reason he ditched Hollywood for Australia as he hails it ‘greatest decision’
Chris Hemsworth has described ditching Hollywood for Australia as the ‘greatest decision’ while shedding light on why he made the move in the first place.
The Marvel actor, 42, his wife Elsa Pataky and their three children moved out of Los Angeles, California, in 2015 and purchased a big farm in Byron Bay – a laid-back surf town just south of Australia’s Gold Coast.
Now, over a decade into their new life, Hemsworth has lifted the lid on what prompted him to relocate.
Speaking in the latest episode of the SmartLess podcast, hosted by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett, he said that the paparazzi and the pressure of Hollywood was partly to blame.
‘It was right around the time my boys were born, and it was just, we kind of were set up in LA and not enjoying it, you know?’ he said.
‘Like nothing was shooting there. We were filming kind of everywhere else. And then… you’d come home and paparazzi and all the sort of the trappings of living in that space.’
Hemsworth and Pataky, who wed in 2010, are parents to daughter India Rose, 13, and 11-year-old twin sons Sasha and Tristan.
Their sprawling Australian farm has plenty of space for their family, complete with horses, motorbikes and surf.
Chris Hemsworth has opened up about ditching LA for his native Australia
The Marvel actor, 42, and his wife Elsa live in Byron Bay with their daughter India Rose, 13, and 11-year-old twin sons Sasha and Tristan
‘You know, when you come back from work, you wanna go on a holiday?’ he continued. ‘Like coming home for me is – it feels like a holiday.’
Hemsworth and his wife bought their Byron Bay family home for $7 million in 2014.
In 2022, it was reported they had transformed the sprawling property into a compound that had been valued at between $30 million and $60 million.
The actor carried out extensive renovations on the six-bedroom home, and it now boasts a steam room, gym, media room and games room.
There is also a stunning outdoor living area, play areas for his three kids and a 50-meter rooftop infinity pool, which overlooks the ocean.
The couple also own a Broken Head horse ranch and retreat, purchased in 2019 for $4.25 million, with an estimated value of $10 million.
Sitting on 35 hectares, it was developed to include a state-of-the-art horse stables and dressage, show jumping and horse exercise arena.
There was also the development of a man-made swimming lake, complete with entertaining cabana, islands and even a water slide.
Hemsworth and his family moved Down Under in 2015 and have lived their ever since
Born in 1983, Hemsworth grew up approximately 20 minutes outside Melbourne with his brothers, fellow actors Liam Hemsworth and Luke Hemsworth.
He recalled the endless adventures he had with his brothers and explained what sparked his interest in acting.
Recalling their childhood, he said: ‘It was just all bush land and rainforest sort of set up around us.
‘And so, we would just [have]… adventures outdoors and playing different characters.’
