Liam Hemsworth (born 13 January 1990)[1] is an Australian actor. He took the role of Josh Taylor in the soap opera Neighbours and as Marcus on the children's television series The Elephant Princess. In 2010, he starred in the American film The Last Song and in 2012, he starred as Gale Hawthorne in The Hunger Games film series, based on an adaptation of Suzanne Collins' best-selling novel series. Hemsworth's elder brothers, Luke and Chris, are also actors.[2]
Life and career
1990–2006: Early life
Hemsworth was born in Melbourne, Australia. He is the son of Leonie, a teacher of English, and Craig Hemsworth, a social-services counselor.[3][4] He has two older brothers, Chris and Luke Hemsworth, who also work as actors.[2] Hemsworth has said that though there is competition for jobs among them, it is friendly: "We are brothers and we are always competitive, but it is a good thing, it pushes us and we are always happy whenever someone books something."[5]
When Hemsworth was in year 8, he and his family relocated to Phillip Island,[6] a small island. Hemsworth says he spent much of his time there surfing with his brothers.[7] In March 2009, Hemsworth moved to the United States to pursue his career there.[8] He and his brother Chris first stayed in the guest house of Chris's manager, William Ward,[9]before renting their own Los Angeles apartment.[5]
2007–10: Career beginnings
Prior to becoming an actor, Hemsworth laid floors for six months.[5] He began to seriously consider following his elder brothers' footsteps in high school by participating in school plays. Eventually, Hemsworth retained an agent.[7] He attended his first audition at the age of sixteen[10] and began his career in 2007 with guest spots on the showsHome and Away and McLeod's Daughters.[11] The week of 8 July 2007, Hemsworth began filming episodes for Neighbours, an Australian soap opera his brother Luke had previously starred in.[12] Hemsworth's character, Josh Taylor, was a recurring character from 2007 to 2008. In the show, Josh was an athletic paraplegic who supported and began a relationship with character Bridget Parker after she was paralysed down one side of her body in a car crash.[13] In 2008, Hemsworth began acting on the children's television show The Elephant Princess, playing "Marcus", the attractive lead guitarist of the protagonist's band.[11][14] Hemsworth later had roles in the television seriesSatisfaction and starred in the British film Triangle.[11] He also made a brief appearance as an MIT student in the film Knowing.[15]
In 2009, Hemsworth was selected to act opposite Sylvester Stallone in Stallone's 2010 film, The Expendables, but his character was written out of the script (Hemsworth later co-starred in The Expendables 2).[2] Hemsworth's brother, Chris, told Movieline that just a few hours after Hemsworth learned he would not appear in The Expendables, directorKenneth Branagh called to ask him to test for the lead role in the 2011 film Thor.[2] Hemsworth moved to the States in March 2009 for screen tests.[8] Though he eventually lost the part to Chris in May,[9] Disney announced later the same week that Hemsworth had landed the part of Will Blakelee in the 2010 drama The Last Song, based on theNicholas Sparks novel by the same name. Hemsworth plays the love interest of Miley Cyrus's character in the film.[16] Nikki Finke reported that Hemsworth had been in Los Angeles for just three weeks and had not yet found an agent when he was cast.[9] Hemsworth next appeared in the music video for Cyrus' "When I Look at You"[17] which was recorded on 16 August 2009.[18]
In September 2009, Hemsworth appeared at a dinner event to promote Foxtel, an Australian pay television company.[19] In March 2010, Details magazine selected Hemsworth as one of their predictions for "The Next Generation of Hollywood's Leading Men".[15] Later that month, it was announced that Hemsworth was in negotiations to star inArabian Nights, a 3D action film that will be directed by Chuck Russell for Inferno Entertainment.[20] It was later confirmed that he will be starring in the movie.[21] He has also reportedly been offered the lead role in "Northern Lights" after "Twilight" star Taylor Lautner withdrew from the David Ellison-financed project.[21]
Hemsworth was the Nickelodeon Australian Kids' Choice Awards 2010 host.[21] He and Miley Cyrus won the "Fave Kiss" category.[21]
2011–present
On 4 April 2011, Lionsgate announced Hemsworth to be one of the leads, Gale Hawthorne, in The Hunger Games, which was released in 2012.[23] In June 2011, he became attached to war drama Love and Honor which also stars Aimee Teegarden and Teresa Palmer.[24]
In 2013, Hemsworth appeared in Empire State, with Emma Roberts, and Paranoia, co-starring Harrison Ford, Gary Oldman and Amber Heard. The latter film was released in August to negative reviews and poor box-office receipts. Hemsworth's performance in Paranoia was panned, The New York Times concluded that "he ambles through the role like an obedient robot."[25] The Hollywood Reporter felt "he never fully engages our [audience] sympathy."[26]
He reprised his role, Gale Hawthorne, in the sequel to The Hunger Games, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, which was released in November 2013.
On June 11, 2012, Los Angeles-based non-profit organization Australians in Film announced that Hemsworth would be honored at an exclusive Benefit Dinner on June 27, 2012 in Hollywood.[27] Hemsworth attended the invitation only event, held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Century City, with his then fiancée Miley Cyrus. It was their first public appearance together as an engaged couple.[28]
Personal life
While filming The Last Song in June 2009, Hemsworth began a relationship with his co-star Miley Cyrus.[29] After three years of having a on-again, off-again relationship, the couple announced their engagement in June 2012.[30] They lived together in Los Angeles[31] but ended their relationship in September 2013.[32]
Philanthropy
Hemsworth is the ambassador of the Australian Childhood Foundation. Hemsworth talked about his association with the foundation, "I have the best parents you can have. They have worked in child protection for twenty years and have only ever given me encouragement and support. The world is a scary enough place as it is for children. It is important that home should always be a safe place for them." When asked if he believed he was a hero to children, Liam said he did not know, but that he would like to be a good role model.[33]
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Home and Away | TV series (1 episode) | |
| 2007 | McLeod's Daughters | Damo | TV series (1 episode: Leaving the Nest) |
| 2007 | Neighbours | Josh Taylor | TV series (25 episodes) |
| 2008 | The Elephant Princess | Marcus | TV series (26 episodes) |
| 2009 | Satisfaction | Marc | TV series (2 episodes) |
| 2009 | Knowing | Spencer | |
| 2009 | Triangle | Victor | |
| 2010 | The Last Song | Will Blakelee | |
| 2012 | The Hunger Games | Gale Hawthorne | |
| 2012 | The Expendables 2 | Billy "The Kid" Timmons | |
| 2013 | Love and Honor | Mickey Wright | |
| 2013 | Paranoia | Adam Cassidy | |
| 2013 | Empire State | Chris Potamitis | |
| 2013 | The Hunger Games: Catching Fire | Gale Hawthorne | |
| 2014 | Cut Bank | Filming | |
| 2014 | The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 | Gale Hawthorne | Filming |
| 2015 | The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 | Gale Hawthorne | Filming |
Awards and nominations
On June 27, 2012 Liam Hemsworth was presented with the Australians in Film Breakthrough Award for international success.[27]
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | The Last Song | Young Hollywood Breakthrough of the Year | Won |
| 2010 | The Last Song | Nickelodeon Australian Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Kiss | Won |
| 2010 | The Last Song | Teen Choice Awards Male Breakout | Won |
| 2010 | The Last Song | Teen Choice Awards Best Liplock with Miley Cyrus | Nominated |
| 2010 | The Last Song | Teen Choice Awards Best Movie Drama | Nominated |
| 2010 | The Last Song | Teen Choice Awards Best Movie Chemistry | Nominated |
| 2012 | The Hunger Games | Teen Choice Scene Stealer: Male | Nominated |
| 2012 | The Hunger Games | People's Choice Awards Chemistry (shared with Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson) | Won |
| 2012 | The Hunger Games | MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance | Nominated |
| 2012 | The Hunger Games | MTV Movie Award for Best Cast | Nominated |
| 2012 | The Hunger Games | Teen Choice Award for Choice Hottie-Male | Nominated |
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