‘MY FAMILY IS SO IMPORTANT’
Tidelands’ Elsa Pataky talks family
Elsa Pataky feels a connection with the ocean. That’s weird, the Spanish actress concedes, considering she grew up in the bustling city of Madrid. But she always imagined what it would be like to live by the water. And now … “My dream came true,” Pataky, 42, tells WHO from her home in breezy Byron Bay, where she lives with her husband Chris Hemsworth, 35, and their children, daughter India Rose, 6, and twin sons Tristan and Sasha, 4.
“I always dreamt in my head I would live in a place like this. I achieved what I wanted, because I think a connection to nature is something you really need. My kids have that. Every time we have to travel, we miss the ocean. The kids miss it. It’s beautiful.”
This connection to water is something Pataky shares with Adrielle Cuthbert, her mysterious character in the sexy Netflix series Tidelands. In the eightpart fantasy drama – Netflix’s first Australian production – Adrielle is a strong leader who is as dangerous as she is sultry. She uses sex in shocking ways. “It’s a good thing to surprise people and for the audience to see you doing different things,” Pataky says of her role.
“She is a Tidelander who uses her sensuality as a strong weapon,” Pataky adds. “She knows what she has; she knows she has the power. I think it’s great to use it if you think you can use it to achieve what you want.”
What does Chris think of her bold role? “He hasn’t seen so much,” Pataky laughs. “He was so excited for me to work and get passionate about acting again. I hope he likes it. You always want your partner to be proud of you.”
Much of the filming took place in Brisbane and around the Gold Coast, a short distance from Byron. This was not the reason she chose the role, but it was a nice bonus to be so close to home. “My family is so important to me,” she says. “To know that Chris was at home with the kids while I was working made me so happy.”
Tidelands marks the actress’ first significant role after taking a break to have children. Pataky married Thor star Hemsworth in 2010 and they initially lived in Los Angeles, before shifting to Byron.
“I hadn’t worked like this for a long time, since I had my kids,” Pataky says. “And I think I did feel pressure, in a way. I wanted to feel more confident speaking in English and not Spanish or French, which is easier for me. That was a big challenge for me. But I always think this makes you work harder. You have to think, ‘I can do this.’ ”
Pataky seems to draw strength from her childhood. Like so many children, she had her share of run-ins with schoolyard bullies. “When you’re a kid, others can be so cruel,” she recalls. “Not in an extreme way, but kids can create problems. That’s life. You learn so many lessons and they give you skills [to cope with life].”
And as a mother, Pataky admits she has to find a balance between teaching her children resilience and wrapping them in cotton wool. “You want to protect them,” she says. “But in some ways, you shouldn’t. This is what prepares you for life. It’s not easy. It’s complicated knowing you have to let them go for them to be stronger.” Ultimately, Pataky hopes both she and Hemsworth can inspire their daughter, India, to achieve whatever she wants. “I want for her to have no limits,” she says. “That she can feel she can do any profession a man can. I want her to know she can be as strong as any man.”
“You want your partner to be proud of you”
By Stephen Downie Tidelands premieres on Netflix on Dec.14