HEMSWORTH KIDS ARE MY EST CRITICS’
actress wife, Elsa Pataky.
The little ones had the chance to visit the set of their dad’s latest flick, Thor: Love and Thunder, when Chris was filming in Sydney. But the trio were seriously underwhelmed by the experience.
“I guess it’s just normal for them,” says Chris. “I think Wonder Woman is their favourite character
– it’s definitely my boys’ favourite character.”
In Thor: Love and Thunder, the hammer-wielding hunk just wants to retire from saving the world and find some inner peace. This place of self-reflection is a new one for the Norse god.
“He has evolved over the years, much like all of us,” Chris says. “There’s a growth within each film. He has learnt things about himself and changed and matured. And that’s the journey we’re all on, isn’t it? It’s a journey of self-discovery.”
But it wouldn’t be a Marvel film if Thor was left to his introspection. Before long, he has to decide whether to step up in the name of the greater good once again.
“What he’s learnt over the years is to stay true to who he is,” Chris says. “Although he wants quieter moments and wishes for peace and serenity, the universe calls upon him for his support and he is in servitude of others. And when the call is made, he answers and off he goes.”
This time around, it is a particularly nasty piece of work, Gorr the God Butcher, who Thor must fight against. Playing the Big Bad is Christian Bale, with Chris revealing the villain rated highest out of any Marvel Cinematic Universe baddie with audiences.
“Man, [Christian] was impressive,” raves Chris. “First time he walked on-set, I was blown away,
I was intimidated.
“But what was most impressive is underneath the villainous nature, there was a vulnerability too. You don’t agree with what he’s doing, but you kind of understand his anger and frustration and motivation.”
Chris was also in awe of another performance by an acting legend making his Marvel debut.
“Russell Crowe as Zeus: hilarious,” he says. “He came in and was self-deprecating and made a fool of himself in the most wonderful way. He had such a beautiful sense of humour with it.
Thor isn’t left to fight the battle against Gorr on his own. But he is taken aback by the fact that his ex, Jane Foster, ends up by his side – and she has powers of her own.
“Natalie Portman is back and this time as the Mighty Thor,” Chris explains about
Jane’s transformation. “I mean, imagine seeing your exgirlfriend, where there was an untold story, unfinished business, love there that was never truly experienced.
“He’s impressed and in love when he sees her.”
It’s hard not to be a little bit surprised when Australian bestselling romance author Léonie Kelsall tells New Idea that it was actually a very unglamorous dung beetle which was the inspiration for her latest novel The River Gum Cottage.
“No, really!” she explains. “I paused to rescue a beetle stranded on its back and thought that would make a good ‘meet-cute’.
“That germ of an idea evolved into the story of two people passionate about sustainability, ecology and natural living, who are thrown together to navigate the grief and guilt that comes with life,” she explains.
In the feel-good read we meet Lucie, who is forced to make an emotional return to her family-run strawberry farm in country South Australia after a broken relationship led her to escape to the city.
Luckily, she crosses paths with eco-farmer Jack, who may just provide a good enough reason for making a permanent move back.
Like it is for many novelists, being a writer is just one hat Léonie wears.
She also works as a professional counsellor, which fits perfectly with her passion for telling stories.
“I’m always looking to help people heal. The escapism of a carefully crafted, believable romance has the power to do this,” she says.
And, of course, this does mean a satisfying ending is always part of her writing prescription.
“I love to know I’m providing that little bit of happiness, that satisfied ‘ah’, when a reader reaches the end of one of my stories.”