Aussie Celebrity Sightings

We’ve had a few brushes with famous Aussies: John Howard (whilst still Prime Minister) at the airport, various footballers dining out at trendy Melbourne bistros, friends who live down the street from Geoffrey Rush, and St. Kilda - the funky suburb just down the road- is filled with up and coming musicians, artists, and actors. We also know a former PDIer who’s getting regular theatre work and is breaking into television – both commercials and TV series like “City Homicide”. A missed celebrity sighting was at Finger Pier in Sydney we were witness to a drunken bloke yelling up at Russell Crowe’s schmick (slang for extravagant/ luxurious) apartment, “Go back to NZ, ya kiwi!!”

Last night was the pinnacle of celeb sightings. Bill Hunter was sinking a pot at “our local” (Aussie for your neighborhood pub) Gunn Island – aka The Gunn. Who is Bill Hunter? You’ve probably never heard his name but you’d immediately know him if you see him. He’s Australia’s version of JT Walsh – the ubiquitous supporting cast member you always see but don’t always recall his name. Bill Hunter was in Gallipoli with Mel Gibson, played Muriel’s father in Muriel’s Wedding, Bob in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, and the voice of the dentist in Finding Nemo. He was also in Baz Lurhman’s Australia. But Bill was happy having a beer at the local pub just like any other regular bloke.

The Aussies are very proud of their countrymen and women who’ve made it big in Hollywood. After a while, it seems like every star is Australian. Besides Academy Award winners Rush and Crowe, there are Cate Blanchett, Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts, Keith Urban, Rachael Griffiths, Toni Collette, Eric Bana, Anthony LaPaglia, Melissa George (just joined Grey’s Anatomy), Hugh Jackman, Kylie Minogue, Bryan Brown, the Veronicas, Guy Pearce, George Lazenby (the least famous James Bond), Paul Hogan (Crocodile Dundee), Judy Davis, Gemma Ward, Dame Edna, the BeeGees, and, of course, Australia’s sweetheart, Olivia Newton-John. There is also the slightly decomposed Heath Ledger and Steve Irwin and the long departed Errol Flynn. Seems the Aussies punch above their weight when it comes to celebrities.