Hollywood Down Under stars are fleeing the pandemic-stricken USA and moving to Australia

Australia has become inundated with Hollywood stars making their home Down Under, either permanently or temporarily, over the past year. 

With the COVID-19 pandemic raging in the United States, a slew of productions have shifted operations to largely coronavirus-free regions of Australia. 

While some stars are racing to Oz for work, others have moved to the region in the hopes of enjoying a safer lifestyle for themselves and their families. 

The most recent transplants are funnyman Sacha Baron-Cohen and his wife, Isla Fisher, who appear to have relocated from Los Angeles to Australia for good in the past month. 

The Borat star, 49, and the Wedding Crashers actress, 44, have taken the major and seemingly permanent step of enrolling their children at a school in Sydney, which happens to be the city where they first met back in 2002. 

Last week, Isla was spotted picking up her children from their new school after working on her laptop at a nearby café. 

Sacha and Isla, who tied the knot in 2010, share three children together. 

Until recently, the notoriously private family were living in Los Angeles.

But after filming wrapped on Sacha’s latest mockumentary, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, it’s unclear if he has any more work in the pipeline in LA – particularly amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, Isla, who was raised in Perth from the age of six, has always dreamed of bringing up her children in Australia. 

She told Marie Claire in 2018: ‘I have this secret fantasy of slowing down, moving to Byron Bay, getting off the grid and sitting on the sand with a Vegemite sandwich.’

The Scooby-Doo star added that it ‘isn’t easy’ raising children in LA, saying: ‘There’s not really a culture of bringing your kids to dinner parties or to restaurants past 6pm.

‘I tend to entertain at home because I want to be with my family – it’s easier to put your kids to bed and have a wine with friends.’

Also in town with her entire family is Oscar-winner Natalie Portman, 39, who has slotted into Australian life easily since arriving in Australia in September with her family, ahead of filming her new movie, Thor: Love and Thunder, in Sydney. 

The V For Vendetta star is in Australia with her husband, Benjamin Millepied, 43, and their children, Amalia, three and Aleph, nine. 

Natalie has been spending time in NSW, and has gone largely unnoticed as she fits in with the laid-back locals in trendy areas, like the celebrity-favourite NSW coastal town of Byron Bay and hip suburb Bondi Beach. 

The star told the Jimmy Kimmel show that her children have already picked up the local slang.

‘They say lollies (now) instead of candy, tomato sauce instead of ketchup. When you want what you want, you gotta say it like the locals,’ she said this week.   

She was spotted arriving at Sydney’s Fox Studios last month as her latest movie, Thor: Love and Thunder heads into pre-production.  

Another Hollywood heavyweight, Zac Efron, has spent most of the year living in Australia. 

In August, it was reported that the 33-year-old had been quietly living in Byron Bay for ‘months’, with sources suggesting he moved there to escape the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S.

According to TMZ, the American actor was already at that time considering a permanent move to the coastal town.

Sources alleged that the actor was ‘planning to list his Los Angeles home in the near future’ and is ‘burnt out living in and around Hollywood’.  

In September, The Daily Telegraph reported that Zac had ‘inspected and put in an offer’ on a home in Byron Bay, but was outbid at the last minute by a rival buyer.

More recently, Zac was rumoured to be the mystery buyer of a record-breaking $22million mansion near Wategos Beach.

During his several months in Australia, Zac fell in love with local Byron Bay waitress Vanessa Valladares, 25, and the pair are still going strong. 

In August, Daily Mail Australia revealed that he’d cancelled his scheduled flight to LA, with rumours are swirling that the actor was given the final nudge to permanently relocate to Australia after falling for the Byron Bay General Store café worker. 

‘He was only planning to fly home if he had to,’ a source revealed. ‘He didn’t really want to go back to America.’

KIISS FM radio host, and friend of Zac’s, Kyle Sandilands, said in October: ‘He absolutely loves Australia. He’s in love with this girl, Vanessa. They’re a beautiful couple. They do everything together. They’re just sweet’. 

The High School Musical star, along with his girlfriend, have temporarily relocated to the South Australian city of Adelaide this month. 

This week, Zac was spotted working out in the South Australian outback, where he is currently based ahead of filming streaming service Stan’s new original movie Gold. 

Production for Gold was halted at the end of November, after Adelaide was declared a coronavirus hotspot.

His upcoming movie tells the story of two drifters who stumble across the biggest gold nugget ever found while exploring the outback.

While it’s yet to be confirmed if production has resumed on the movie, Zac certainly appears to be getting prepared for the role with regular gym workouts – and has shown no signs of wanting to return home the the U.S. 

Perhaps the most famous ex-pat to make his way back home permanently is Thor megastar Chris Hemsworth, who along with his wife Elsa Pataky, 44, laid down roots in Byron Bay with their three children in 2014. 

The pair live in a custom-built $20million Byron Bay ‘mega mansion’ which was slammed by locals for it’s massive size. 

Last year, Elsa hit back at claims their new pad looks like a shopping centre, and insisted it was just the angle of the photos. 

Speaking on The Kyle and Jackie O Show on KIIS FM, Elsa said: ‘Seriously, it’s not that big.’

‘The problem is all of the photos from all of those drones is from the top, and the outside area [looks bigger than] the inside,’ she explained.

The home has a private gym and the impressive 50-metre rooftop infinity pool alone is estimated to have cost the couple at least $400,000. 

The family are settled into the area, regularly seen in town and known for the parties they host at their property. 

Chris’ actor brother Liam Hemsworth is a regular visitor to his brother’s Byron Bay home. 

The 30-year-old moved back to Australia from the United States early this year following the breakdown of his marriage to Miley Cyrus, 28. 

He’s been hunkering down inside his luxury Phillip Island beach pad since April, as COVID-19 sweeps the globe. 

The Hunger Games actor has been spotted surfing around the area routinely since moving there – and also makes routine trips to Byron Bay to visit his brother, Chris.

Liam has been living at Phillip Island, which is just off Australia’s southern coast, with his model girlfriend Gabriella Brooks, 23. 

The couple appear to be living blissfully in Liam’s bunker-inspired beach pad, which he purchased in 2013 for $1.6 million.  

Liam and Gabriella were first spotted together in mid-December 2019 during a lunch date with Liam’s parents, Craig and Leonie, in Byron Bay. 

Another Australian who has made their way back home after years living in Nashville, in the the U.S. state of Tennessee, is Nicole Kidman. 

The star has been living in Byron Bay on-and-off with her husband Keith Urban and their two daughters, Faith, 9, and Sunday, 12, since filming for her new show, Nine Perfect Strangers, began earlier this year. 

Nicole’s and Keith’s arrival back in Australia in July was not without controversy. 

The A-list couple, who flew from Tennessee to Sydney via private jet, were granted permission by the New South Wales Government to self-isolate at home instead of staying at a quarantine hotel for two weeks.

Unlike the vast majority of travellers who must stay in state-approved hotels, Nicole, 53, and Keith, 52, were allowed to head straight to their $6.5million mansion in the NSW Southern Highlands.

Despite being granted this exception, the pair spent 14 days at home in accordance with Australia’s coronavirus rules.  

The family then moved into a Byron Bay ‘eco-mansion’ complete with sea views, sustainable furniture and a private chef. 

Called The Range, the luxurious property, which is environmentally sustainable, ‘sits on 120 acres in the hinterland of Byron Bay’ and is believed to cost up to $50,000 a week.

The couple’s arrival Down Under came after Nicole was given the green light to film her new TV series, Nine Perfect Strangers, in Australia. 

The production, based on the 2018 novel by Liane Moriarty, will reportedly inject $100million into the struggling local film industry by creating hundreds of jobs. 

Nicole has spent the last few weeks working on scenes for Nine Perfect Strangers in Sydney’s Barangaroo. 

Likewise in Australia to film the Hulu mini series Nine Perfect Strangers is comedian Melissa McCarthy, who is also in the Byron Bay region. 

She is in town with her husband Ben Falcone, 47, and children, Vivian Falcone, 13, and Georgette Falcone, 10.  

The actress, 50, is believed to be spending $35,000 per week to stay at a luxury rental with views of Wategos Beach and the nearby hinterland. 

Staying close to the action, Melissa is living in a grand, multi-level home just a stone’s throw away from one of Australia’s most beautiful beaches, Wategos. 

The property has four large bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, and the top floor is dedicated entirely to the master bedroom.   

The Bridesmaids star has been spotted out and about in the coastal town in recent months, after moving to Byron Bay in August.

She often shares videos from her Aussie home and even picked up a ‘Koala lover’ hat in Byron Bay.  

Yet one more Australian star who has returned home from the USA is Rose Byrne, 41, who is currently living in Byron Bay with her husband Bobby Cannavale, 50, and their children. 

The couple flew into Australia In August, and quarantined in a Sydney hotel for 14-days after their arrival into New South Wales.

The couple and their children are residing in the coastal town as Bobby films his part in the much-anticipated series, Nine Perfect Strangers, produced by Nicole Kidman. 

They have been spotted enjoying the local beaches with their children, sons Rafa, 3, and Rocco, 4. 

Hollywood stars don’t come any bigger than Tom Hanks, and the 64-year-old has called Australia home since September. 

Currently located on Queensland’s Gold Coast, the Oscar winner is filming Baz Lurhmann’s Elvis Presley biopic.  

Production on the film was delayed earlier this year, when Tom announced his coronavirus diagnosis. 

Tom and his wife Rita Wilson, 64, contracted COVID-19 while staying on Australia’s Gold Coast in March.   

After their diagnosis, the Hollywood couple remained in hospital for three days before returning to their rented home on the Gold Coast to continue quarantining.

Following their quarantine period, the A-list couple returned to Los Angeles in late March.

Tom returned to the Sunshine State on September 8 by private jet, to continue filming on the long-awaited biopic. 

The Castaway star plays Elvis Presley’s manager Colonel Parker in the AU$105 million feature.  

Fitting right in with the locals, the laid back superstar has been spotted shopping at local Gold Coast shopping centres and going for hikes and jogs around town. 

The star is rumoured to be staying at Rivermead on the Gold Coast, which charges guests up to $6,000 per night. 

However Rivermead denied he was staying at the estate, and told Daily Mail Australia they had no guests connected with the movie industry. 

As well as Tom Hanks, in Australia to film the Elvis biopic is leading man Austin Butler, 29.   

Austin is playing the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll himself in the upcoming movie while Olivia DeJonge is playing his wife, Priscilla Presley. 

Last month, he was seen taking a break from his shooting schedule on Sunday to spend quality time with his co-star Olivia on Queensland’s Gold Coast, where they enjoyed a day at the beach. 

The ex-boyfriend of actress Vanessa Hudgens continued to fuel dating rumours with the stunning Australian star, 22, during their sun-drenched outing. 

Mark Wahlberg, 49, has spent significant time in Australia over the past few years, enjoying summers in Bryon Bay with his wife and children. 

The A-list actor shares four children with wife Rhea Durham, 42 – daughter Ella-Rae, 17, sons Michael, 14, and Brendan, 12, and another daughter Grace, 10.

The Ted actor arrived back in Australia this week, touching down in Sydney by private jet. 

The Hollywood star is reportedly currently quarantining at a private property in Byron Bay. 

Mark will spend 14 days at the private home, which is reportedly costing him more than $400,000.

After completing his mandatory two-week quarantine, Mark will reportedly fly back to Sydney to film an ad for online betting agency Ladbrokes.

The actor was spotted arriving in Sydney with his entourage via private jet on Monday night. He then boarded a second aircraft bound for Byron Bay. 

One American that seems to keen to stay in Australia indefinitely is Grey’s Anatomy star Kate Walsh.   

She arrived in Perth for a short holiday in March but found herself ‘stuck’ in the country after the COVID-19 pandemic took ruthless hold across the globe, leaving borders closed and international travel limited.

However, five months after entering the country, the 53-year-old has happily set up base in Western Australia – with even her own mother begging her to stay away from the United States due to their soaring number of coronavirus cases.

Kate is well and truly settling into local life, and her pet dogs Rosie and Pablo are on the way to join her. 

This week, the American actress shared a photo of her beloved pooches on Instagram, and revealed she is counting down the days until their arrival. 

The actress explained the pair are currently in transit to Australia and are expected to land in another 15 days. 

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph about her new love affair with Australia, the actress explained: ‘I didn’t really want to go back to New York in the middle of a pandemic when it was pretty gnarly to say the least. 

‘I couldn’t go home initially, and now that I can, I don’t really fancy going back. When I have my own mother saying don’t come home, my 86-year-old mum… we are in a very challenging time!’    

Claiming to have found a new ‘passion project’, Kate revealed her plans to help bolster Australia’s local film industry after it suffered enormously due to global pandemic.

The Grey’s Anatomy star recently told 2GB’s Jim Wilson she felt ‘very grateful’ to be in Australia during the COVID-19 crisis.

 ‘Honestly, I feel very lucky,’ she said. ‘It’s kind of a crazy situation: it’s like being in an alternate reality compared to the rest of the world.’

Actor Liam Neeson has been on the set of his new action flick Blacklight in Melbourne’s outer suburbs since early November. 

According to the film’s producer Paul Currie, the Irish actor, 68, hasn’t been able to do any sightseeing. 

Because of strict COVID-safe protocols on set, the action star is seeing more of his hotel room than the sights of Melbourne. 

‘He hasn’t had time to go out to restaurants or anything like that, and we can’t let him out anyway,’ Currie tole The Age. He’s under a very tight protection bubble.    

Liam was seen on the set of the film last month, wearing a protective face mask to limit the spread of COVID-19 as he stepped out of his trailer to meet an awaiting film crew. 

The star spent the last two weeks in hotel quarantine in Sydney after arriving from overseas.

It’s not just movies and TV series that have shifted to Australia – an American game show is currently filming in Oz too. 

Iconic US game show Name That Tune is currently being filmed in Australia for a reboot in 2021, hosted by Jane Krakowski and Randy Jackson. 

Both Jane, 52, and co-host Randy, 64, are staying at a luxurious hotel in Sydney while filming continues.

They were both seen on set last week as the game show got underway. 

They’re currently very far away from home Down Under to film the show’s reboot amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although the live audience will be Australian, the contestants used in the show will all be Americans currently living Down Under.

The show is being filmed at the Sydney Convention Centre in Darling Harbour.

British star Idris Elba has been enjoying the warm weather and spotted taking strolls in Sydney since arriving in November.

The actor, 48, is Down Under to film his new movie, Three Thousand Years of Longing.

The star was spotted looking relaxed as he took a stroll to a party store in the Sydney suburb of Drummoyne last month.

The Thor star is filming the new movie by Mad Max director George Miller, which was originally slated to start in March before being delayed by the pandemic.  

Model Lara Bingle, 33, and her Avatar star husband Sam Worthington, 44, have been based in the US with their family for years. 

But according to Who magazine in November, the couple are set to relocate back to their native Australia for an ‘extended stay.’

The publication reports that the pair will be temporarily moving Down Under while Sam performs in the Sydney Theatre Company’s production, Appropriate.

It is believed that the family will be based in Sydney.  

The reports come after Lara and Sam listed their Los Angeles mansion for sale earlier this year. 

Lara and Sam share three children together, Rocket, four, Racer, two, and a son who they welcomed in June. They are yet to reveal his name.