by Chris Hemsworth has become one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, headlining blockbuster franchises like Thor and Men in Black. But long before he became an A-lister, Hemsworth was just a kid from Melbourne trying to break into acting. During those early days, Hemsworth received invaluable support and encouragement from fellow Aussie actor Michael Hurst, something he has never forgotten.
In a recent interview with GQ Australia, Hemsworth recalled how transformational Hurst’s mentoring was when he was first starting out on the soap opera Home and Away. At the time, Hurst was already an established star in Australia thanks to his long-running role on the cult fantasy series Xena: Warrior Princess. According to Hemsworth, Hurst selflessly took the rookie performer under his wing.
“He was so generous with his time and advice. He’d take me out to lunch and share these incredible stories and lessons. He really helped me believe in myself and my ability to make it in this industry. I’ll never forget that.”
Hemsworth has spoken before about how instrumental Michael Hurst’s guidance was in building his confidence as a young actor. In a 2017 interview on The Project, he credited Hurst with “completely changing the direction of my career and life.”
According to Hemsworth, Hurst helped install a strong work ethic and big picture mentality that has stuck with him ever since. “Michael taught me not just how to be an actor, but how to be a professional and carry yourself in this industry. I owe him a huge debt of gratitude for that.”
Hurst made his acting debut in the late 1970s and his breakthrough came when he was cast as Iolaus on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys starring Kevin Sorbo. The fantasy action series became a worldwide sensation in the 90s and paved the way for the equally popular Xena: Warrior Princess spin-off starring Lucy Lawless.
Over six seasons from 1995 to 2001, Hurst portrayed the wise-cracking sidekick to Lawless’ fearsome titular heroine. His quirky comic timing and emotional range quickly made Iolaus a fan favorite. In a creative flourish that epitomized the inventiveness of Xena, Hurst also played Iolaus’ doppelganger, cocky gambling addict Autolycus.
Hemsworth was just an 18-year-old unknown when he joined the cast of Home and Away in 2004. The long-running Aussie soap provided a who’s who of future stars getting their big break, including Heath Ledger, Isla Fisher, and Naomi Watts.
According to Hemsworth, he was immediately welcomed into the tight-knit surrogate family by Hurst. “He created such a warm, supportive environment for me on my first real professional set. I’ve tried to recreate that welcoming atmosphere on projects I’ve worked on ever since.”
Hemsworth has kept his effusive praise for Hurst going over the years, keen to acknowledge the invaluable mentorship he received early on. While promoting Thor: Ragnarok in 2017, he reiterated how Hurst always “believed in me more than I believed in myself.”
According to Hemsworth, conversations with Hurst would provide little epiphanies that changed his whole perspective. “I’d chat with him and suddenly feel like I can do this acting thing after all. He filled me with confidence.”
Over a decade later, Hemsworth still cites Hurst’s sage advice as guiding principles that keep him grounded. “He taught me to always be humble, never be complacent, and constantly be looking to learn and improve your craft.”
After Home and Away, Hemsworth quickly landed a role in the 2009 reboot of Star Trek before achieving global stardom as the Mighty Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He has often used his platform to highlight social issues like indigenous rights and mental health awareness.
Meanwhile, Hurst continued finding success in a variety of creative avenues. He directed several episodes of Xena and also Helmed the 2016 TV movie The Kick. He published an acclaimed autobiography in 2011 entitled “The Kiwi and the Midgie” detailing his acting journey.
Hurst also nurtured emerging antipodean talent by establishing the annual Bambi Awards honoring up and coming Kiwi performers. Hemsworth actually received the Best International Actor Bambi Award in 2013.
The two Aussie stars reunited in 2015 when Hurst had a cameo role in Hemsworth’s cyber thriller Blackhat. Sharing a photo from set, Hemsworth gushed about getting to work with the “incredibly talented” Hurst again.
Based on the heartfelt praise he still lavishes on Hurst, it’s clear the imposing Thor star hasn’t forgotten his humble beginnings. Hemsworth credits those early mentoring conversations as the foundation that his whole career has been built upon.
While accepting the Excellence in Film award at the GQ Man of the Year Awards in 2021, Hemsworth again took a moment to acknowledge Hurst’s invaluable early support.
“If it wasn’t for you, mate, I don’t know that I would be standing up here now…Your guidance back then set me on the path that led me here today.”
It’s a testament to Hemsworth’s character that amidst his meteoric success, he remains so grounded and appreciative of those who helped him along the way. Rather than letting fame go to his head, he has paid homage to Hurst’s wisdom and kindness at every opportunity.
In the fickle world of Hollywood stardom, Hemsworth stands out for never forgetting his Australian roots. While he is now a bonafide A-lister able to anchor mega-franchises as the Mighty Avenger Thor, Hemsworth still thinks back to those uncertain early days trying to break in.
When he was just a teenager on his first big break, Michael Hurst provided encouragement and a belief in his talents that Hemsworth says he “desperately needed” at the time. That formative experience clearly molded Hemsworth into the consummate professional and class act he is known as today.
Though years have passed since their Home and Away days, Hemsworth continues to speak with great affection and gratitude for the mentoring support Hurst selflessly provided him. It’s a touching reminder that even the biggest movie stars often benefit from people believing in them early on and helping nurture their potential.
From the Aussie soaps to the Hollywood hills, Michael Hurst’s guidance paved the way for Chris Hemsworth’s stratospheric success. But no matter how big a star Hemsworth becomes, he never lets himself forget those humble roots, and the generosity of spirit that Michael Hurst showed him as a young performer trying to find his way.
It’s a story of paying kindness forward, and one iconic Australian supporting another early on. Decades into his unmatched career, Hemsworth’s heartfelt tributes prove he will never take that transformational early encouragement from Michael Hurst for granted.
