SmartLess

Chris Hemsworth

February 23, 2026

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  • Chris Hemsworth is currently promoting his new film, *Crime 101*, directed by Bart Layton, whom he praises as a kind, collaborative, and masterful craftsman. 
  • Hemsworth shared that his son, Tristan, was named after Brad Pitt's character in *Legends of the Fall*, and he also discussed the challenges of balancing his children's differing reactions to his acting career. 
  • The conversation touched upon the difficulty of live performance, with Hemsworth describing the feeling of his mind going blank while his mouth keeps talking during a recent preview show for his stage production. 
  • Chris Hemsworth noted that the tonal shift in *Thor: Love and Thunder* resulted in backlash compared to the appreciation received for the twist in *Thor: Ragnarok*. 
  • Chris Hemsworth's first job involved repairing Fisher & Paykel breast milk pumps, which included cleaning dried milk residue. 
  • Despite recent shark attacks near Byron Bay, Chris Hemsworth continues to surf daily, relying on statistics about greater risks from lightning or vending machines. 

Segments

Stage Show Previews
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(00:01:09)
  • Key Takeaway: The second preview performance of Sean’s show was perceived as manufactured compared to the authentic first preview.
  • Summary: The hosts discuss the difference between a first show, which feels real and authentic, and a subsequent show where the performer might feel a veil between themselves and the words. This difference can manifest as the actor emoting but feeling slightly manufactured. The concept of a ‘soft sophomore slump’ after a strong opening performance was mentioned.
Chris Hemsworth Introduction
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(00:06:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Chris Hemsworth grew up in a remote Australian community, worked repairing breast pumps for $10 an hour, and almost quit acting before a final audition.
  • Summary: The introduction highlights Hemsworth’s challenging upbringing in a remote Australian community, four hours from the nearest town. He previously worked repairing breast pumps for minimal wages before moving to LA. His career trajectory shifted after a final audition saved him from quitting acting.
Mutual Acquaintances and Parties
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(00:06:37)
  • Key Takeaway: Jason claims Chris Hemsworth knows his wife, leading to teasing about past ’trigger environments’ and shared parties.
  • Summary: A brief, humorous tangent arose when Jason mentioned Hemsworth knows his wife, prompting jokes about Jason’s suspended ‘privileges’ and avoiding ’trigger environments.’ Hemsworth confirmed attending a large three-day event in Palm Springs with 50 or 60 people recently.
Tristan Name Origin
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(00:09:05)
  • Key Takeaway: Chris Hemsworth named his son Tristan after Brad Pitt’s character in Legends of the Fall after seeing a particularly legendary scene.
  • Summary: Hemsworth confirmed naming his son Tristan after seeing a scene in Legends of the Fall where the character looked ’legendary’ on a horse. His son, now 11, fits the name due to his high energy and love for riding horses and motorbikes. Hemsworth also recounted an awkward near-kiss interaction when meeting Brad Pitt.
Film Production Lengths
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(00:11:59)
  • Key Takeaway: Hemsworth finds six-month film shoots tedious and unnecessary, preferring the fast-paced momentum of smaller productions or soap operas.
  • Summary: Hemsworth expressed a desire for less tedious film roles, criticizing long shoots that rely on outdated technology and excessive equipment. He prefers the momentum gained from shooting 20 scenes a day, similar to his early soap opera experience, which forces actors to learn to be good quickly.
Australian Acting Mafia
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(00:13:44)
  • Key Takeaway: Hemsworth felt outside the ‘Australian mafia’ circle of actors in LA early in his career because he came from soap operas rather than elite acting schools like NIDA.
  • Summary: Referencing Margot Robbie’s comments, Hemsworth noted the existence of an Australian acting support network in LA. He felt excluded because his background included soap operas (Home and Away) and Dancing with the Stars, contrasting with those from prestigious schools like NIDA. He eventually connected with peers like Joel Edgerton.
Hot Wings Challenge Aftermath
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(00:16:01)
  • Key Takeaway: Chris Hemsworth completed the full 10-level Hot Wings challenge for a previous film’s press tour, resulting in him hugging the toilet for 12 hours afterward.
  • Summary: Hemsworth admitted to completing the entire Hot Wings challenge for a prior press tour, becoming cocky until the final levels overwhelmed him. He hadn’t eaten all day, and the hot sauce was the first thing in his stomach, leading to severe gastrointestinal distress that lasted 12 hours.
Early Career and Quitting Acting
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(00:32:18)
  • Key Takeaway: Hemsworth was about to quit acting before landing the role in Cabin in the Woods, which he attributes to surrendering desperation and over-preparing.
  • Summary: The turning point for Hemsworth was landing the role in Cabin in the Woods when he was ready to quit. He theorizes that removing desperation allows authenticity to shine through, contrasting this with the exhausting effort of pretending not to care during auditions.
Tattoos and Family Art
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(00:36:58)
  • Key Takeaway: Hemsworth has a tattoo of the character from Dr. Seuss’s Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, which he started removing but stopped after his daughter expressed love for it.
  • Summary: Hemsworth has several tattoos, including one inspired by Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, a book his mother read to him and he read to his daughter. He began laser removal but stopped when his daughter became upset that the image was fading, leaving it partially visible.
Thor’s Evolution and Fan Reaction
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(00:52:05)
  • Key Takeaway: Hemsworth appreciates that the different directors of the Thor films allowed him to explore varied tones, contrasting the appreciation for Ragnarok’s shift with the backlash to Love and Thunder’s ‘Monty Python sketch’ style.
  • Summary: Hemsworth noted that playing Thor for the tenth time allows for character evolution because the audience now expects dramatic shifts. While Ragnarok was praised for its tonal shift, Love and Thunder received backlash for being too much of a goofball comedy, illustrating the delicate balance required when moving beyond comic book source material.
Handling Comic Book Characters
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(00:53:23)
  • Key Takeaway: Filmmakers must balance creative risks with fan expectations when adapting established comic book characters.
  • Summary: Taking chances with character portrayals, such as the tonal shift in Thor: Ragnarok, can be appreciated, but overdoing it, as felt with Thor: Love and Thunder, can lead to backlash. This dynamic creates a unique partnership between the audience and filmmakers in shared universes. The variation in comic book source material allows for different directorial takes.
Chris Hemsworth’s First Job
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(00:55:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Chris Hemsworth’s initial employment involved repairing and cleaning rental breast milk pumps for Fisher & Paykel.
  • Summary: His first job was working for Fisher & Paykel, a white goods company that also manufactured breast pumps. Hemsworth was responsible for repairing the motor belts and cleaning dried milk residue from the returned rental units. This experience provided ample time for him to contemplate alternative career paths.
Sports Background and Injuries
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(00:56:08)
  • Key Takeaway: Chris Hemsworth excelled in the 110 hurdles and played AFL football for nearly a decade before quitting due to injury risk.
  • Summary: He was agile enough for the 110 hurdles, though not fast enough for the 100-meter dash. Nine years of playing AFL football resulted in chronic injuries, including two concussions by age 15. He stopped playing after dislocating his shoulder at 17, fearing further injury would prevent him from surfing.
Australian Wildlife Encounters
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(00:57:30)
  • Key Takeaway: Chris Hemsworth has encountered dangerous Australian wildlife, including sharks, King Brown snakes, and Redback spiders, near his home.
  • Summary: During a period of intense shark activity in Byron Bay, helicopters patrolled the coast using sirens to warn surfers of bull sharks and great whites. He frequently sees venomous snakes like the King Brown, which offers only about 15 minutes before anti-venom is needed if bitten. Non-venomous pythons are welcomed as they keep the more dangerous snakes away.
Avengers Camaraderie and Success
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(01:01:36)
  • Key Takeaway: The success of the Avengers films fostered a strong, supportive bond among the core cast members.
  • Summary: The Avengers crew maintains a positive relationship, stemming from initial low expectations for the superhero genre’s success. Each individual film’s success benefited the others, leading to mutual excitement as the franchise expanded. The cast remains grateful for the longevity of their partnership and the continued success of the films.
Promotion for Crime 101
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(01:02:26)
  • Key Takeaway: Chris Hemsworth’s film Crime 101, released February 13th, is a character-driven thriller reminiscent of 70s/80s harsh action films.
  • Summary: The film is described as having suspense built through both action and dramatic scenes, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats. It features a phenomenal cast including Halle Berry, Barry Keoghan, and Mark Ruffalo. The movie successfully blends a throwback aesthetic with a contemporary feel.