Top 50 Most Popular Australian Actors Of All Time

There is no ardent film fan in the world who is not familiar with the name Heath Ledger and his on-screen histrionics as Joker.

The critically acclaimed actor, who passed away in 2008, truly became immortal after having played the character of Joker in filmmaker Christopher Nolan's blockbuster full-length feature The Dark Knight.

Also a music video director and photographer, Ledger could be seen delivering praiseworthy performances in movies such as Brokeback Mountain, Monster's Ball, and 10 Things I Hate About You.

Geoffrey Rush made his acting debut on the television show Menotti in 1980. He is one of the few respected actors in the world to have won the Triple Crown of Acting.

He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in 1996's Shine and has been a part of well-regarded mainstream projects such as Quills, The King's Speech, Elizabeth, and the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.

Rush is also known to have appeared in television shows such as Genius and The Life and Death of Peter Sellers.

He is a recipient of an Academy Award, three British Academy Film Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and four Screen Actors Guild Awards, respectively.

Russell Crowe is a supremely talented actor, director, and singer who was first seen playing a minor role on the television show Spyforce in 1972.

Even though he was born in New Zealand, he spent about 10 years of his precious childhood in Australia. Soon after, he moved there permanently.

Crowe became a household name after playing Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius in the epic historical blockbuster feature Gladiator.

For his performance in the same, he won an Academy Award, Broadcast Film Critics Association Award, Empire Award, and London Film Critics Circle Award for Best Leading Actor, respectively.

Crowe can be seen in acclaimed motion pictures such as The Insider, L.A. Confidential, A Beautiful Mind, Robin Hood, The Nice Guys, and 3:10 to Yuma, to mention a few.

Hugh Jackman is a true-blue superstar of the cinematic world. He reportedly began his career in theatre and made his acting debut on the show Law of the Land in 1994.

Within a few years of his debut, the man stunned the world with his effortless portrayal of James "Logan" Howlett/Wolverine in the popular X-Men series of feature films.

He has been a recipient of two Tony Awards, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, and a Golden Globe Award, respectively.

One can find Hugh performing in projects such as Logan, Kate & Leopold, Prisoners, The Prestige, Les Misérables, and The Greatest Showman, to name a few.

The actor appeared in the comedy-drama Bad Education alongside Allison Janney in 2019.

He made it to the headlines again when he announced that he would be returning as the fiery Wolverine in the third instalment of the Deadpool franchise, which is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

Hugo Wallace Weaving is an English actor who was born in Colonial Nigeria to English parents. However, he has stayed in Australia for almost the entirety of his acting career.

First seen in the 1980 feature film ... Maybe This Time, he is the recipient of six Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards (AACTA).

Weaving has been acknowledged as an Honorary Officer of the Order of Australia. He can be seen in motion pictures such as Proof, the first three The Matrix films, and The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.

Joel Edgerton has been a prominent Australian actor ever since he made his screen debut in the mid-1990s. The actor can be seen playing the character of Owen Lars in the Star Wars films Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. 

He reprised his role in the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi in 2022.

He has been a part of some popular and acclaimed mainstream projects such as King Arthur, The Great Gatsby, Red Sparrow, Black Mass, and Loving.

For his performance in the drama series The Secret Life of Us, the actor won the AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama.

He put his filmmaking skills on display when he helmed the incredibly tense suspense drama The Gift in 2015.

David Wenham is known to have appeared in film, television, and theatre. He made his acting debut on the television show Sons and Daughters in 1987.

The actor gained prominence after having featured in some hugely popular Hollywood productions such as The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, Van Helsing, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Public Enemies, and 300 and its sequel 300: Rise of an Empire.

Wenham can also be seen in television shows such as Top of the Lake and Killing Time.

First seen in the television feature Kenny & Dolly: A Christmas to Remember, Anthony LaPaglia is an Australian actor who is best known for playing the role of Jack Malone in the television drama Without a Trace.

For his performance in the aforementioned show, he won a Golden Globe Award in 2004. That said, he also bagged the Primetime Emmy Award for his character projection of Simon Moon in the television sitcom Frasier.

He can be seen in feature films such as Annabelle: Creation, Betsy's Wedding, Autumn in New York, and Nitram, among others.

Richard Roxburgh is an actor, writer, producer, and director who first rose to fame courtesy of his performances on the stage.

The actor made his mainstream acting debut on the television show Frontier in 1987. He went on to participate in Australian feature films and television shows such as Moulin Rouge!, Rake, and Blue Murder, among others.

Roxburgh was then seen gaining further fame by playing significant roles in motion pictures such as Mission: Impossible 2, The Hound of the Baskervilles, and Van Helsing.

His maiden outing as a director, Romulus, My Father, starred another popular Australian actor Eric Bana in the main lead.

Jack Thompson, born John Hadley Payne, has been one of the most distinguished figures of the Australian New Wave. He started his acting career after having graduated from the University of Queensland.

An honorary member of the Australian Cinematographers Society, he is best known for playing a significant role in classic motion pictures such as The Club, Sunday Too Far Away, The Man from Snowy River, and Petersen.

A recipient of a Living Legend Award at 2005 Inside Film Awards, Thompson became a major film star in Australia after having played the titular role in Petersen.

This English-born Australian actor started his acting career by playing the role of Mike Young in the Australian television series Neighbours.

After gaining fame with the release of The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, he was seen headlining popular titles such as L.A. Confidential, The Time Machine, and Memento.

Pearce was recently seen in the critically acclaimed show Mare of Easttown alongside fellow superstar Kate Winslet. He won a Primetime Emmy Award for his character projection in Mildred Pierce.

Since we have been discussing his career, it is imperative to mention that the actor also takes an interest in singing. Matter of fact, his debut album, Broken Bones, was officially released in 2014.

While he went on to release his second album, The Nomad, in 2018, he also made sure to appear in the music video for the song "Follow Me Around" by Radiohead.

Ben Mendelsohn is a popular character actor who can be seen playing criminals and villains in several Hollywood productions.

After having shot to fame by playing a significant part in 1987's The Year My Voice Broke, the actor could be seen portraying noteworthy characters in features such as Animal Kingdom, The Dark Knight Rises, Starred Up, Mississippi Grind, Rogue One, Darkest Hour, and Ready Player One.

The year 2017 saw Mendelsohn making his debut in the coveted Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). He was seen playing Talos in Captain Marvel and Spider-Man: Far From Home.

The actor has also gone on to make his presence felt on television.

While he was seen playing the main lead in the HBO crime miniseries The Outsider, he was also seen reprising his role as Talos in the Disney+ series Secret Invasion.

Chris Hemsworth was first seen playing a role in the television show Guinevere Jones. He shot to fame after portraying Kim Hyde in the Australian television series Home and Away.

Best known for playing "Thor" in The Avengers and Thor series of blockbuster feature films, he is among the highest-paid movie stars in the world today.

Aside from the aforementioned film franchises, the popular Australian star can be seen in motion pictures such as Extraction, Star Trek, Men in Black: International, Rush, The Cabin in the Woods, and A Perfect Getaway.

Hemsworth not only agreed to reprise his role as the thunderous Thor in Thor: Love and Thunder but he also returned to play Tyler Rake in the second instalment of the Extraction franchise. 

While the former hit the screens the world over in 2022, the latter was released on Netflix the following year. 

Bryan Brown has been participating in feature films since the mid-1970s. He's participated in over 80 movies and television shows both in Australia and abroad throughout the course of his wonderful cinematic voyage.

The actor rose to prominence after having played a role in 1980's Breaker Morant. He could also be seen in notable titles such as Give My Regards to Broad Street, F/X, Tai-Pan, Cocktail, Gorillas in the Mist, F/X2, Along Came Polly, Australia, Kill Me Three Times, and Gods of Egypt.

For his character play in the television miniseries The Thorn Birds, Brown was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy Award.

There is no denying that Peter Finch was one of the finest actors of his generation. Even though he was born in London, he moved to Australia for good at a very young age.

Besides his several fine performances on screen, the actor will also be remembered for being a hard drinker and someone who really enjoyed the company of women.

Admirers of this English-born Australian actor can never forget his performance in the 1976 movie Network. His character projection of an eccentric television anchorman in the project won him a posthumous Academy Award for Best Actor.

Not only that but he also received his fifth Best Actor award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and a Best Actor award from the Golden Globes for the same.

Simon Baker had already made a name for himself by appearing in several television shows in Australia before Hollywood came knocking on his door.

The actor was seen playing a significant part in shows such as E Street, A Country Practice, and Home and Away.

However, after having played a seedy role in the cult classic motion picture L.A. Confidential, Baker started to feature in quite a few mainstream projects.

Today, he is best known for his amazing character projection in TV's The Mentalist. The role he plays in the show has now become his best-known performance to date.

Colin Friels is a Scottish-born Australian actor who launched his acting career in the theater and on television.

He made his debut motion picture appearance in a film called Hoodwink; a title in which he shared the screen space with his future wife Judy Davis.

In 1986, Friels won the AFI Award for Best Actor for his performance in the Australian cult comedy flick Malcolm.

Furthermore, his character projection in the television series Water Rats also ended up fetching him the Logie Award for Most Outstanding Actor at the 1997 awards.

The spectacular Eric Bana was first seen playing various characters in the 1996 television feature Eric.

Also a comedian, he was first noticed after having played a part in feature films such as Chopper and The Castle during the early stages of his career.

Bana soon started making his undeniable presence felt in famous Hollywood productions such as Hulk, Black Hawk Down, Troy, Munich, Lone Survivor, and Star Trek, to name a few.

Paul Hogan is an actor, comedian, film producer, and writer who was first seen on Australian television back in the early 1970s.

He wrote and produced his own comedy sketch program The Paul Hogan Show, which was quite popular in both the United Kingdom and South Africa.

Even though he may not be seen in a ton of mainstream motion pictures, Hogan won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for his character play of Michael "Crocodile" Dundee in the first installment of the Crocodile Dundee film franchise.

Sam Worthington was first seen on the television show JAG in 2000.

The Australian actor shot to global fame after playing the role of Jake Sully in the mammoth box office blockbuster Avatar.

Worthington has earned Australia's highest film award for his character projection in a feature film Somersault. He can also be seen in well-known motion pictures such as Terminator Salvation, Wrath of the Titans, Clash of the Titans, Hacksaw Ridge, Fractured, and Everest.

Noah Taylor made his acting debut by featuring in the 1986 motion picture Dogs in Space. He has been seen in several well-known television shows and movies since then.

The actor played the character of Adolf Hitler in both the American television series Preacher and the 2002 film Max. He has also been seen in acclaimed shows such as Game of Thrones and Peaky Blinders.

When it comes to films, Taylor can be seen in titles such as Shine, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and He Died with a Felafel in His Hand, to mention a few.

Jason Clarke made his acting debut by appearing in an episode of a television show Halifax f.p. during the mid-1990s.

Even though he has gone on to feature in many shows ever since he made his debut, he is perhaps best known for playing Tommy Caffee on the television series Brotherhood.

When it comes to the movies, Clarke can be seen making an impact in popular features such as Zero Dark Thirty, White House Down, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Terminator Genisys, Everest, Mudbound, First Man, and Pet Sematary.

The excellent Errol Flynn achieved enormous fame during the Golden Age of Hollywood.

He was mostly seen playing swashbuckling romantic roles and liked to team up with fellow actor Olivia de Havilland for film projects.

Some of his most prominent roles came in motion pictures such as The Adventures of Robin Hood, Captain Blood, The Charge of the Light Brigade, Dodge City, and Santa Fe Trail.

Flynn found stardom by mostly playing characters that allowed him to be a freedom-loving rebel who went on to win the hearts of his leading ladies.

He was perhaps best known for his many adventure movies.

Brendan Cowell is an actor, playwright, and director who was first seen making an appearance in 1999's Kick.

The actor played a role in the Australian cable TV's Love My Way; a show some whose select few episodes were also penned by him.

In 2017, he was seen playing the character of Harrag - an Ironborn sea captain who teams up with Theon Greyjoy - in the smash-hit HBO series Game of Thrones.

Stephen Curry was first seen on the television show Fast Forward in 2001. He's a well-known Australian comedian and actor who has made his presence felt in television dramas, comedy series, and feature films.

He hosted the 50th AFI Awards for the Nine Network in 2008 and has been seen playing a role in shows such as False Witness, 30 Seconds, The Time Of Our Lives, and Sit Down, Shut Up.

Rod Taylor appeared in more than 50 projects throughout the course of his career.

The Australian actor was seen featuring in popular motion pictures such as The Time Machine, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, Inglourious Basterds, and The Birds at the peak of his cinematic journey.

Taylor, who began taking art classes in high school, decided to become an actor after having gotten inspired by the iconic Laurence Olivier.

Hailed as the undisputed 'King of Television' in Australia during his heyday, Graham Cyril Kennedy was more of an all-encompassing entertainer rather than a film star.

However, he did make his dynamic presence felt in quite a few movies as well. The entertainer was honored as an officer of the Order of Australia.

He'd been a six-time recipient of the Gold Logie; including his win of the Logie Hall of Fame award and the Star of the Year Award in 1959.

Arguably the most awarded performer in the history of Australian television, Kennedy was seen playing both brief and leading roles in the few motion pictures that he had been a part of.

Troye Sivan is a singer and songwriter who gained popularity as a YouTuber and through talent competitions. Even though he hasn't been seen in a ton of motion pictures, one can find the youngster playing the role of the younger Wolverine in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

He has also been featured as the titular character in the Spud film trilogy. The actor received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song for "Revelation"; a track that he recorded for the movie Boy Erased.

Sivan was also seen playing a supporting role in the film.

Liam Hemsworth made his acting debut on the television show Home and Away in 2007. He first gained attention after appearing in the soap opera Neighbours and the children's television series The Elephant Princess.

The actor decided to follow in his elder brothers' footsteps by taking a call to appear in school plays.

Sooner than later, Liam could be seen making his presence felt in motion pictures such as The Last Song, The Dressmaker, Triangle, Independence Day: Resurgence, and The Hunger Games series.

Vincenzo Colosimo may be of Italian descent but he has become one of the most recognized Australian actors over the years.

Not only has he been a competent stage performer but he has also made an impact both in the movies and on television.

The actor has worked in Australian and United States productions such as Chopper, Body of Lies, The Great Gatsby, and Daybreakers.

Colosimo is also known to have featured in television shows such as Something in the Air and We Can Be Heroes.

Xavier Samuel was first seen playing a part in a television series McLeod's Daughters in 2003.

He can be seen playing crucial roles in feature films such as Adore, September, Further, We Search, Newcastle, The Loved Ones, Frankenstein, A Few Best Men, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, and Spin Out.

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse was Samuel's first taste of bonafide mainstream success. The following year, he was nominated for and won an award at the 2011 MTV Movie Awards.

Alex Russell made his acting debut in the 2010 film Wasted on the Young. He is perhaps best known for playing a part in motion pictures such as Chronicle and Believe Me.

The actor was also seen portraying Jim Street in the crime action-drama reboot S.W.A.T. He has also managed to feature in short movies such as The Best Man and Halloween Knight.

Jacob Elordi may be relatively new to the movie scene but he has already been a part of Netflix's The Kissing Booth teen franchise; a series that is credited with bringing him fame.

He is also known for his character projection of Nate Jacobs in the HBO series Euphoria. The young actor first experienced the environment of a Hollywood set when he worked as an extra in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.

That said, Elordi can be seen playing a part in the anthology horror film The Mortuary Collection, which was written and helmed by Ryan Spindell.

Jordan Rodrigues made his acting debut on a television series Home and Away in 2008. Also a competent dancer, he is best known for portraying Trey Emory in the Hulu original series Light as a Feather.

Besides Home and Away, he is also known to have participated in television shows such as Dance Academy and The Fosters. In fact, he was seen playing one of the main characters in the former.

Bud Tingwell was first seen playing an uncredited role in the 1939 feature film Come Up Smiling. He was not only a film actor but he was also a television, theatre, and radio personality.

One of Australia's most popular cinema veterans, he made his first credited screen appearance in 1946. Soon after, he became a consistent performer and went on to feature in more than 100 films and numerous TV programs both in Australia and the United Kingdom.

Firass Dirani was first seen on the television show Children's Hospital in 1998. He is a film and television actor who is perhaps best known for playing a character in Power Rangers Mystic Force.

Also seen in shows such as Underbelly: The Golden Mile and House Husbands, one can find him in the Australian feature film The Combination as well.

Furthermore, he even ended up playing a side role in the action thriller motion picture Killer Elite, which starred actors such as Jason Statham, Clive Owen, and Robert De Niro in significant roles.

After having played a starring role in the series Slide, Brenton Thwaites was seen making his presence felt in the soap opera Home and Away.

The actor made his feature film debut with Charge Over You in 2010. Soon enough, he had significant roles to play in motion pictures such as Blue Lagoon: The Awakening, Oculus, The Giver, Gods of Egypt, and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.

The year 2018 saw Thwaites playing the part of Dick Grayson/Robin/Nightwing in the show Titans.

Callan McAuliffe made his acting debut on the television show Comedy Inc. in 2007.

He made his film debut playing the part of Bryce Loski in Flipped, and can also be seen in other mainstream titles such as I Am Number Four and The Great Gatsby.

Aside from his debut series, McAuliffe cam be seen making an appearance in shows such as The Walking Dead and Blue Water High as well.

He has also participated in the Australian coming-of-age short film Franswa Sharl in 2009. It was an independent project.

Keiynan Lonsdale is not only an actor but he is also a dancer, singer, and songwriter who made his acting debut in the 2007 motion picture Razzle Dazzle.

The actor is best known for his roles in television shows such as Dance Academy, Legends of Tomorrow, and The Flash.

Also, one can find him playing a part in feature films such as Love, Simon, The Divergent Series: Insurgent, and The Finest Hours, to mention a few.

Ryan Christian Kwanten is an actor and producer who was first seen participating in the 1992 show A Country Practice.

The actor was seen portraying Vinnie Patterson in the Australian soap opera Home and Away, and soon made a name for himself by appearing in the teen drama series Summerland.

Kwanten continued to add to his list of television credits by being a part of shows such as True Blood, The Oath, and Them.

Dacre Montgomery made his acting debut in the movie Better Watch Out in 2016.

He is best known for playing the role of Billy Hargrove in the popular Netflix series Stranger Things and Jason Scott in the 2017 feature film Power Rangers.

The actor has also been a part of music videos. Furthermore, he launched his own podcast, titled "DKMH", which featured his own poetry in 2019.

Jai Courtney was first seen on the television show All Saints in 2008. He started his acting career by playing small roles in feature films and on TV.

He first gained prominence after being cast as Charlie in the action movie Jack Reacher. Soon after, he was also seen in popular flicks such as A Good Day to Die Hard, I, Frankenstein, The Exception, Suicide Squad, Divergent, and The Suicide Squad.

That being said, one can even catch Courtney playing a part in the popular television series Spartacus: Blood and Sand.

Alex O'Loughlin is an actor, writer, director, and producer who is best known for playing the role of Lieutenant Commander Steve McGarrett on CBS' remake of the television series Hawaii Five-0.

Given that the actor lived quite close to the beach growing up in Canberra, it is understandable why he'd want to play the part he did in the aforementioned show.

Alex has headlined motion pictures such as Oyster Farmer and The Back-up Plan.

Like most Australian actors, Lincoln Lewis also started his acting career by playing a role in a television show.

He made his debut on the series Sleepover Club in 2003. Better known for playing a part in the movie 'Tomorrow, When the War Began', he can also be found featuring in television shows such as Home and Away and Slide.

Lewis has participated in television shows such as H2O: Just Add Water, Rescue: Special Ops, and Mortified since the young age of 13. He made his feature film debut by playing a tiny role in Aquamarine.

This Australian actor and model initially wished to be a professional Tennis player. However, after having made his acting debut in 2008, there was no looking back.

Best known for appearing in shows such as Neighbours, H2O: Just Add Water, and Home and Away, he won the Most Popular New Male Talent trophy at the Logie Awards ceremony in 2010.

That said, the actor joined the cast of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. in 2015.

Luke Hemsworth made his acting debut in 2003 on the television show The Saddle Club.

The older brother of popular Australian actors Chris and Liam Hemsworth, he is best known for having appeared in television shows such as Neighbours and Westworld.

The actor got his acting training at the National Institute of Dramatic Art and was appointed the newest face of Tourism Australia in 2018.

This actor of Jamaican-Canadian descent is best known for playing the role of Scott Truman in Power Rangers RPM.

While he has been in the New Zealand flick Mr. Pip, one can also find him playing a decent part in television shows such as Jessica Jones, The Originals, and Tell Me a Story.

Even though Eka was born in Cairns, Australia, he is currently believed to be residing in California in the United States of America.

Daniel Aaron Lissing was first seen playing a character on the television show Pizza in 2001. Known for starring as Conrad De Groot in the television drama series Crownies, the actor was soon seen playing a role in the American military drama show Last Resort.

He has also made his presence felt within The Hallmark network after having played a key role in the series When Calls the Heart.

Lissing has also been seen in Hallmark Channel's Christmas in Love and A December Bride.

Felix Mallard is an actor, musician, and model who made his acting debut on the popular soap opera Neighbours in 2014.

After having worked in the aforementioned show, he started to take acting seriously. Needless to say, he was then seen in the Netflix series such as Locke & Key, Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, and Ginny & Georgia.

Mallard also marked his presence in the teen romantic drama feature All the Bright Places in 2020.

Devon Terrell is an American-Australian actor who made his professional acting debut in the 2016 feature film Barry. He was seen playing the role of a young Barack Obama in the biopic.

Also known for portraying Arthur in the Netflix original series Cursed, he was first supposed to be seen in an episode of Steve McQueen's HBO miniseries Codes of Conduct.

However, the show was canceled after the pilot was filmed. Terrell is said to have worked on his dialect and seen a lot of Barack Obama speeches in order to do justice to the former president's persona in Barry.