Australia has always punched above its weight when it comes to the global film industry. While Hollywood might be the beating heart of international cinema, many of its biggest stars call Australia home, or have built their careers on homegrown talent. From superheroes and Oscar-winners to pop culture icons and dramatic heavyweights, Aussie actors have racked up billions at the global box office.
This list celebrates the Australian actors whose work has not only entertained millions but also helped shape the international perception of Australian talent. Some were born and raised here, others made the move early in life, and a few, like Russell Crowe, have become honorary Aussies through decades of cultural contribution.
Whether they’re donning capes, delivering knockout performances, or making us laugh and cry from the screen, these actors have carried the Australian spirit onto the world stage, and brought serious box office muscle with them.
Australia’s Highest-Grossing Film Actors
Cate Blanchett
Estimated global box office: Over $9.8 billion
Born in Melbourne, Cate Blanchett is one of Australia’s most internationally acclaimed actors. A two-time Academy Award winner, she has led both commercial blockbusters and critically celebrated films. Her most prominent work includes The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, Thor: Ragnarok, Ocean’s 8, and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Blanchett’s career spans theatre, arthouse cinema and major studio franchises, making her one of the most versatile talents to come from Australia.
Hugh Jackman
Estimated global box office: Over $9.4 billion
Born in Sydney, Hugh Jackman is best known globally for playing Wolverine in the X-Men franchise, a role he held for over two decades. He has also made his mark in musicals such as Les Misérables and The Greatest Showman, as well as dramatic films like The Prestige and Prisoners. His stage background has brought a unique presence to both his singing and acting roles, earning him critical acclaim and commercial success.
Chris Hemsworth
Estimated global box office: Over $8 billion
Born in Melbourne and raised on Phillip Island, Chris Hemsworth became a household name through his portrayal of Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. His performances in Avengers: Endgame, Infinity War and the standalone Thor films helped drive enormous box office figures. Outside of Marvel, Hemsworth has starred in Snow White and the Huntsman, Extraction and Men in Black: International. He remains one of the most bankable action stars working today.
Nicole Kidman
Estimated global box office: Over $7 billion
Nicole Kidman was born in Honolulu to Australian parents and moved to Sydney at the age of four. She holds Australian citizenship and is widely regarded as one of the country’s most enduring film and television exports. Her breakout role in Dead Calm led to international stardom with films such as Moulin Rouge!, The Hours (for which she won an Oscar), Aquaman, Batman Forever and The Others. Kidman has also become a major presence in television, producing and starring in Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers.
Sam Worthington
Estimated global box office: Over $6 billion
Born in the UK and raised in Western Australia and Queensland, Sam Worthington is a naturalised Australian citizen. He shot to fame as the lead in James Cameron’s Avatar and its sequel, The Way of Water, two of the highest-grossing films in cinema history. He also starred in Clash of the Titans, Terminator Salvation and Hacksaw Ridge, cementing his place in blockbuster cinema.
Margot Robbie
Estimated global box office: Over $3.5 billion
Born in Dalby, Queensland, Margot Robbie’s breakout came with The Wolf of Wall Street. Since then, she has become one of the world’s most in-demand actors. Major roles include Suicide Squad, I, Tonya, Birds of Prey, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Barbie, which became the highest-grossing film of 2023. She also runs the successful production company LuckyChap Entertainment.
Heath Ledger
Estimated global box office: Over $2.5 billion
Born in Perth, Heath Ledger remains a beloved figure in Australian cinema. He starred in 10 Things I Hate About You, A Knight’s Tale and Brokeback Mountain, but is best known for his haunting portrayal of the Joker in The Dark Knight, which earned him a posthumous Academy Award and helped the film pass the $1 billion mark at the global box office.
Liam Hemsworth
Estimated global box office: Over $2 billion
Born in Melbourne, Liam Hemsworth is best known for playing Gale in The Hunger Games series. He has also appeared in Independence Day: Resurgence and The Expendables 2. While his filmography is smaller than his brother Chris’s, he remains a familiar face in major Hollywood franchises.
Eric Bana
Estimated global box office: Over $1.5 billion
Born in Melbourne, Eric Bana began his career in Australian comedy before gaining global attention with his dramatic turn in Chopper. He went on to star in Hulk, Troy, Munich and Star Trek, and also voiced a character in Finding Nemo. His career has balanced action-heavy films with grounded dramatic work.
Paul Hogan
Estimated global box office: Over $500 million
Born in Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, Paul Hogan became an international star with Crocodile Dundee in 1986. The film grossed over $300 million worldwide and remains one of the most successful Australian productions of all time. While Hogan did not appear in many films afterwards, his cultural impact was enormous and long-lasting.
Honorable Mentions
Toni Collette
Born in Sydney, Toni Collette is known for her versatility across film and television. She received an Academy Award nomination for The Sixth Sense and starred in Muriel’s Wedding, Little Miss Sunshine, Hereditary, Knives Out and more. On television, she led the acclaimed series United States of Tara, earning both an Emmy and a Golden Globe.
Rose Byrne
Born in Sydney, Rose Byrne has found success in both comedy and drama. Her filmography includes Bridesmaids, Spy, Insidious, Peter Rabbit and X-Men: First Class. She has become a frequent face in Hollywood romantic comedies and family films while maintaining strong links to Australia.
Guy Pearce
Born in the UK but raised in Victoria from age three, Guy Pearce is a naturalised Australian and widely considered one of our own. He rose to fame with Neighbours and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, and has since starred in L.A. Confidential, Memento, The King’s Speech and Iron Man 3. He also features regularly in local Australian television and film projects.
Russell Crowe (New Zealand-born)
Russell Crowe was born in Wellington, New Zealand, but has spent most of his life in Australia and is closely associated with the Australian film industry. He is not a legal Australian citizen, but he is often claimed by Australians due to his contributions to local cinema and residence in New South Wales. He won an Academy Award for Gladiator and starred in A Beautiful Mind, Master and Commander, The Insider, Man of Steel and Les Misérables.
Yvonne Strahovski
Born in Werrington Downs, New South Wales, Yvonne Strahovski gained fame through her roles in American television, particularly in Chuck, Dexter and The Handmaid’s Tale, for which she earned an Emmy nomination. She has also appeared in action films such as The Tomorrow War, expanding her global profile.
