Actor Chris Hemsworth revealed that one reason for relocating his family from Los Angeles back to Australia was the downturn in the film industry within the California area. During his appearance on the SmartLess podcast with Jason Bateman and Will Arnett, Hemsworth explained how the shift affected their decision.
“It was right around the time my boys were born, and it was just, we kind of were set up in L.A. and not enjoying it, you know? Like, nothing was shooting there. We were filming kind of everywhere else,”
he noted, highlighting the instability of filming in Los Angeles at that period.
Contrast Between Life in Los Angeles and Australia
Hemsworth emphasized how returning home to Australia feels like a vacation, providing a peaceful contrast to the pressures of life in Los Angeles.
“You know when you come back from work, you wanna go on a holiday? Like, coming home for me is — it feels like a holiday. We have a big farm and horses and motorbikes and surf,”
he described, pointing to the outdoor lifestyle his family now enjoys.
In addition to the work environment, Hemsworth expressed frustration with the invasive celebrity culture in Los Angeles.
“You’d come home and paparazzi and all the sort of the trappings of, you know, living in that space,”
he said, implying a desire for privacy and normalcy for his family.
The proximity of neighbors in Los Angeles was also a drawback he mentioned, contrasting it with the wide-open spaces of his Australian farm.
The Role of Hemsworth’s Australian Upbringing in His Career
Reflecting on his childhood, Hemsworth credited his formative years in Australia’s natural surroundings as a key influence on his acting aspirations.
“It was just all bush land and rainforest sort of set up around us,”
he said, describing adventurous outdoor experiences.
“And so we would just [have] … outdoors adventures and playing different characters. And I think that’s, to be honest, where the sort of intrigue or interest into that transportation into another,”
he added.
Wider Industry Challenges and Political Responses
The film industry’s decline in California has encouraged productions to take advantage of tax breaks in other states and countries, indirectly impacting actors like Hemsworth. In response to these struggles, former President Donald Trump proposed a sweeping tariff measure. In September 2025, Trump announced,
“California, with its weak and incompetent Governor, has been particularly hard hit!”
He then warned,
“Therefore, in order to solve this long time, never ending problem, I will be imposing a 100% Tariff on any and all movies that are made outside of the United States.”
Implications of Hemsworth’s Return on His Future
Chris Hemsworth’s move back to Australia reflects a growing trend among actors seeking better quality of life and creative opportunities outside traditional production hubs like Los Angeles. By prioritizing his family’s lifestyle and embracing his roots, Hemsworth appears to have found balance between career demands and personal fulfillment. Observers will watch how this shift influences his upcoming projects and whether it inspires others in the industry to reconsider their locations.
