This list is proof that some of Hollywood's finest actually come from the land down under.
Welcome to Watchmojo.com,
and today we're counting down our picks for the Top 10 Australian actors.
For this list, we've combined both actors and actresses who were raised in Australia,
are associated with Australia or who self-identify as Australian.
It doesn't matter if they were actually born there,
as long as their heritage is Aussie through and through.
No 10: Eric Bana
If there is anything this born and raised Aussie actor is particularly good at,
it's been incredibly versatile.
He's played a Romulan in the 2009 Star Trek film,
an Israeli Intelligence agent of German-Jewish descent in Munich
and the Hulk.
Plus, he lent his voice to a shark in Finding Nemo.
Jeez, is there anything he can't do?
His range is truly unbelievable,
as he can jump from an intense Thriller to a science fiction film, then step into a Rom-Com
and make those transitions look easy.
Perhaps he developed that skill by starting his career as a sketch comedian in his native Australia.
No 9: Hugo Weaving
Though he was born in Nigeria to English parents,
Hugo Weaving returned to Australia in 1976
and it's there where he began his acting career in earnest.
Although ironically, his first major role was as a Brit in the Aussie series Bodyline.
Today, he's known to many as the masked man in "V for Vendetta".
But this actor has plenty of other roles under his belt.
His parts as Agent Smith in the Matrix movies and Elrond in the Lord of the Rings trilogy
might not be the biggest roles in either series,...
but they did get him more international attention than he had previously
and paved the way for major voice and acting roles in many blockbusters.
No 8: Mel Gibson
Born in New York into a family with Australian heritage,
Mel Gibson and his clan moved down under when he was twelve.
Before long, Gibson was displaying that special something that eventually made him a Hollywood star
while studying theater acting in Sydney.
It was in 1979 that he took on one of the most iconic roles of his career,
in George Miller's Aussie action flick Mad Max.
That was the springboard he needed to succeed in America as a leading man,
first as an action star and later as a producer and director.
He may have encountered controversy in his work and personal life,
but this Oscar winner remains one of Australia's most famous acting exports.
No 7: Russel Crowe
Born in New Zealand, but splitting his childhood between NZ and Oz,
Crowe settled in Australia for good at age 21.
And, using his natural talent, he began focusing on his acting career.
As an Australian actor's rite of passage,
Crowe took on a role on the Aussie soap Neighbours.
And, within a decade, he'd made his Hollywood debut alongside of A-list talent in "The Quick and the Dead".
But, it was his work in 2000's Gladiator that won him the Academy Award for Best Actor,
and made his a household name.
Although he doesn't hold Australian citizenship, Crowe self-identifies as Australian
and was recognized for service to Australian society and Australian film production
with the Australian Centenary Medal in 2001.
No 6: Heath Ledger
Born and raised down under, this Australian show-stopping turn as the Joker in the Dark Knight
was arguably the best performance of his career.
It's truly a tragedy that Ledger wasn't alive to see the admiration that will come his way,
culminating in a posthumous Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
Prior to his death in 2008, this actor was known for his stylish performance in "A Knight's Tale",
as well as for his intense work in the controversial "Brokeback Mountain"
and his breakout role in "10 Things I Hate about You".
Today, his legacy lives in the Heath Ledger Scholarship,
awarded to deserving up-and-coming actors in Ledger's native Australia.
No 5: Errol Flynn
A lot of contemporary movie fans might not be familiar with him,
but, back in his days, this Aussie-American actor was considered the very definition of smooth and suave.
Though his lavish lifestyle and well-publicized love life often got more attention than his acting skills,
in the right role he was unbeatable.
His presence in swashbuckling movies through the 30s and 40s
made him a Superstar in his time.
Unfortunately, major financial woes depleted the fortune he had made,
and Flynn died an untimely death at the age of 50.
However, his reputation as one of the first famous Aussies in Hollywood persists.
No 4: Hugh Jackman
Born, raised and educated in Australia,
Jackman began acting as a hobby
and parlayed his natural charm, talent and good looks into a career.
Well known to theater fans for his frequent Broadway appearances,
to many others he's immediately identifiable as Wolverine of the X-Men.
Add he's playing romantic types just as much as action heroes,
Jackman is as diverse an actor as anyone.
His impressive star turn in the film of the Broadway musical 'Les Misérables'
even netted him a well-deserved Oscar nomination.
With personal appeal and charisma that extend beyond his work in film,
Jackman has become one of Australia's most famous actors working today.
No 3: Cate Blanchett
She gives stellar performances time and time again,
and they've translated into Oscar-worthy success.
Born in Melbourne and graduated from Australia's National Institute of Dramatic Art,
Blanchett's breakout role in 1998's 'Elizabeth' brought her the first of many Academy Award nominations.
She's won Hollywood's highest honor twice, for her roles in 'The Aviator',
where she played Katharine Hepburn
and 'Blue Jasmine',
making her the first Australian ever to take home two Oscars for acting.
To prove just how diverse her acting is,
she even played Bob Dylan in 'I'm Not There',
and she did a pretty darn good job of it too.
No 2: Geoffrey Rush
Following his Oscar-winning performance in the Aussie-made film 'Shine', where he played pianist David Helfgott,
Rush had all of Hollywood at his fingertips.
He's since become a member of the Triple Crown of Acting Club,
with an Oscar, a Tony and an Emmy in his list of accolades,
in addition to the Australian Centenary Medal, Australian Film Institute Longford Life Achievement Award
and Australian of the Year honors.
More Oscar Nominations had followed, including a nod for his role in 'The King's Speech'.
But, many contemporary movie goers know Rush more
for his memorable performances as Captain Barbossa in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.
Before we unveil our No 1 pick,
here are some honorable mentions.
No 1: Nicole Kidman
Though she hasn't been as active in recent years,
Kidman's acting resume supports her position at the top of this list.
Born in Hawaii to Australian parents and settling back in Oz at age 4,
Kidman used acting to overcome her shyness.
If leading roles in movies like the musical 'Moulin Rouge',
Stanley Kubrick's final film 'Eyes Wide Shut' and her Oscar-winning turn in 'The Hours' are any indication,
she's got the talent and appeal to cement her place as one of the most acclaimed and most famous actresses in the world,
not just Australia!
With numerous major awards and nominations under her belt,
Nicole Kidman's sterling reputation is truly well-deserved.
Do you agree with our list?
Which Australian actor or actress is your all time favorite?
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