Elsa Pataky: It was ‘complicated’ starting a family with ‘very young’ Chris Hemsworth

elsa cover

Elsa Pataky covers the February issue of Elle Australia. Did you know that she’s 41 years old? Chris Hemsworth, her husband, is 34 years old. They’ve been married since 2010 after what was a “whirlwind” 10-month romance. That’s mainly what she talks about in this interview, how she’s a mom to Hemsworth babies and how she didn’t really know Chris when they got married and all of that. We haven’t talked much about Elsa after she and Chris moved to Australia – I always believed that it was Chris’s way of trying to get Elsa to stop being so thirsty for attention, but she’s always claimed that she wanted to move out of Hollywood too. Anyway, I didn’t hate her in this interview at all. I actually realized that I’ve kind of been missing her. Some highlights:

How motherhood changed her: “It’s interesting how you can be a successful woman who has been working her whole life, and then you have kids, and suddenly your career isn’t as important, and you don’t appreciate it as much, and you just think, ‘What am I doing? I have been fighting all my life for this, and now I don’t know if I really want it?’ It’s unfair in a way because I don’t think men go through that. But when you become a mum, everything that was important goes into second position. You change a lot. You mature, you see life differently and learn so many things.”

Starting a family with Chris so quickly: “I think any time you start a family without knowing each other that much, it can be complicated… He was very young to be starting a family, and at the same time he was juggling that with his career and it was sometimes difficult, there was so much going on. But he was always trying to be the best dad and has never failed to make me feel like his family is the most important thing to him and [going through that] is how we’ve become so strong together.”

Moving to Australia: “I always tell people, don’t be scared of moving out of your comfort zone because if you are, you’ll miss out on so much life. Almost every person I’ve met who has had the courage to leave everything and have another experience, they have never regretted it. Just go, leave everything, who cares what is going to happen? You’ll have to start again? Great!”

[From E! News]

In previous years, I’ve asked you guys if Elsa really is as famous as she thinks she is. Like, the only reason I knew her, pre-Hemsworth, was because Adrien Brody bought her a castle when they were together. Some might even say that marrying Chris Hemsworth was really her best career move. But there’s little doubt that whatever career she had and still has is now on the backburner in service of his career, his needs, his desires. He tucked her away in Australia and now it’s harder for her to work or travel. Ugh.

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Photos courtesy of WENN, cover courtesy of Elle Australia.

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37 Responses to “Elsa Pataky: It was ‘complicated’ starting a family with ‘very young’ Chris Hemsworth”

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  1. Valiantly Varnished says:

    Yeah people talk about how thirsty she is (and maybe it’s true, maybe it’s not), but I find it very telling how much she gave up in service of HIS career and what HE wanted. He has talked about how moving back to Australia was his idea. I can’t imagine how overwhelming it would be to move to a different country with three small children while your husband is away working most of the time. I like them as a couple and I wish them the best but I do find that a bit sad.

    • Léna says:

      It doesn’t look like she gave up a lot profesionally (her only “worldwide” movies are after she married him), but yes, I agree for the personal part

      • Valiantly Varnished says:

        I meant in general. I’m sure she had a life of her own with friends, etc that she gave up to move to Australia. I’m not saying that’s the wrong decision but considering how much he works I imagine she’s on her own with the kids quite a bit.

      • SM says:

        I honestly never saw a film with her, so maybe you are right. However, I am not sure this is an entirely fair assessment. If she did not have kids, did not let her husband persue his dreams, reaganging her life because he wanted to move back to Australia, she may have had persuaded her own carrer. So who knows. She admits she made sacrifices and to Hemsworth’s credit he never made her feel like that was the wrong choice according to her. Which is great, I think different things work for different couples and as long as they both are happy, it all that matters. At the same time women should be comfortable to talk about the compromises they do for their families or about choosing carrer over family.

    • PJ says:

      @ValiantlyVarnished: You say that as if she were a prisoner who had no choice. Did you read what she said? She loves her life in Australia now (she says so here and any time she does an interview). If she is comfortable & happy with the decision she made together with her husband for their lives, why assume the worst?

      • jetlagged says:

        This is going to sound way harsher than I intend it to (I actually admire her hustle – sort of), but I get the feeling Elsa fully enjoys her status in Australia. She gets to be a bigger fish in the relatively small Aussie pond. She’s married to one of Oz’s most famous sons, and she gets more attention being his wife than she would if they were both still based in the US. This story is proof – if she weren’t Mrs. Chris Hemsworth, I doubt very much she would have scored the cover of Elle Australia.

      • SK says:

        Yeah I mean, I know loads of couples where one (not always the woman) gives up their lives so that the other can follow a dream in another country. It can be an absolutely incredible experience. Sometimes it can be tough but many of them say it’s the best thing they ever did. My sister and I were both born as expats and I don’t know if anyone in my family would be the same people without that experience – we are all richer for it. I am currently in my third year living in different countries other than my own. It has cons but the pros are amazing.

        Not to mention, many people say that Hollywood is a pretty toxic place. He’s a down-to-earth kind of guy – I can’t imagine he enjoyed it much.

        Also, Byron Bay is a spectacularly amazing place to live – I would happily live there in the style she is living in!! Or in much lesser circumstances. As for her career – yes it is on the backburner but realistically, did it have much left in it? She was never a STAR and she isn’t a character actress / supporting player so was the longevity ever there? Whereas in Australia, all of our A-list celebrities tend to be overseas. We are sadly desperate for some razzle dazzle. Elsa is a much bigger fish in Australia. She is internationally known, she is married to one of our biggest stars, she has been in a Hollywood franchise, and she provides access to Chemsworth’s life. Trust me, she gets much bigger and better star treatment in Aus then she ever would have in the US. Note that she is on the cover of an Aussie mag – and it isn’t the first time. I’m pretty sure she has some nice endorsement deals in Aus and if she wanted to she could probably break into our (admittedly very much smaller) TV and movie industry. I think she’ll be okay.

        So yes, she gave up a lot for him, but I don’t see that as something to be angry about. I think she gained immensely from that. She seems to have a pretty fabulous life and a great group of supportive friends in Australia.

      • jetlagged says:

        Their house in Byron Bay is stunning! If it were mine, I’m not sure I’d want to leave under any circumstances…aside from hitting the beach on a daily basis.

    • perplexed says:

      When it comes to certain professions, maybe both parties make a mutual decision as to who they feel will benefit the most career-wise. Because he’s a handsome Australian guy (and has his gender on his side in one of the most sexist industries on earth), they must have instinctively known on some level he’d have the bigger career.

      If I had been dating him (ha ha), I’d probably have made the same decision as her based on who I think would have had the better chance at starring roles and a secure income. I’d think differently if I were a lawyer or a family doctor or accountant, but acting is way too unpredictable. It’s clear he would have had a greater chance at success than me. So if I’m at that stage in my life where I’d like to have a husband and kids along with some degree of financial security to take care of those kids, I’d probably be willing to sacrifice the unpredictable acting career (which I don’t think is the same as sacrificing a more stable profession). I also wouldn’t mind moving to Australia (it’s not a horrible place to be, imo).

  2. Jillian says:

    SamTaylor-Johnson and Aaron except he was underage when they met.

    Or was he?

    Chris seems like a great guy and a good father. Wish them well

  3. Léna says:

    I only know her because she dated a french comic 14 years ago. He pulled a prank on her while on tv (or radio, but it was videotaped, I don’t remember exactly) and she didn’t seem to appreciate it.

  4. What's Inside says:

    I think she has the life that she wants.

  5. PJ says:

    I don’t know much about Elsa but from what I’ve read whenever I’ve come across one of her interviews, I’ve never not liked what she has to say. (My favorite was when she covered Self magazine here in the States a year or two ago. I loved her candor about her personal struggles with being an only child-I related to that strongly-and how she knew from very early on that she wanted a different experience, with siblings, for India).

    As for this quote ” Almost every person I’ve met who has had the courage to leave everything and have another experience, they have never regretted it.” Yes! After years of struggling (financially, socially, you name it) in my life-long New England home state, I felt in my bones that the signs were everywhere that it was time for me to start over in a completely new, totally different environment. I put in for a transfer with my job, packed my bags and moved to the South all in a matter of 30 days. And despite having ZERO support from my living parent (best friend and aunt were behind me 100%) I have never looked back, thrived more or been happier! 😄 The friendships I’ve made here have been remarkable and I know that I am exactly where I’m meant to be because I have been thriving since day 1. Definitely the most out of character I have ever done and changed my life in ways I never knew were possible.

  6. Mia4s says:

    These two aren’t going to make it. Sorry but there’s a…vibe…you can pick up on. They’re trying to convince us (or themselves). I will not be the least bit surprised when/if they separate, especially if his career stalls. And his career will very likely stall post-Marvel. Sorry to be doom and gloom but I call them as I see them.

  7. H says:

    Adrien Brody bought her a CASTLE?

    • Eve says:

      A mansion built like a castle (but not cheap anyway) for them. He did A LOT for her. She had him wrapped around her little finger. He paraded her around, took her to every single carpet she wanted to go, got roles in shitty movies in order to maintain the lifestyle she wanted. There were so many pap strolls while she was with Brody I lost count.

      The now infamous photoshoot at said castle was the beginning of the end of his career. He was ridiculed by almost every single media outlet. He lost his A-list status, his career never recovered ever since.

      After unceremoniously dumping him (apparently to hook up with a French actor whose name escapes me now), she had the nerve to ask for the castle.

      Now that she landed an Elle cover…boy, she’ll be unbereable (re: when she landed the cover of a fitness magazine, she — during an interview with her husband where she chimed in a lot — autographed an issue, gave it to the reporter who hadn’t asked for it and said: “What do you think?”…the reporter was a bit embarrassed).

      Yes, I detest her. No, I’m not envious of her because she’s married to HAMsworth. I loathe this woman for the shenanigans she pulled while she was with Brody.

      By the way, she met Brody through their mutual dialogue coach. Now take a wild guess at how she met HAMsworth.

  8. minx says:

    He’s 34 and their oldest is about 5? That’s not all that young. Anyway, lots of money makes childrearing easier.

  9. Talie says:

    I do think Chris and Liam have certain old-school, dominant ideas about manhood and relationships…you can see it with Miley too. She shifted back when she got back with him.

    • Fruitsaladmorning says:

      Yep, they’re typical Aussie men. Professional guys here are totally different though.

  10. Roci says:

    She has made a career out of being the face/spokesperson for a myriad of products back in Spain (ice cream, underwear, shoes, feminine products) I guess those ad campaigns are exclusive to the Spaniard market, but I am sure they are quite lucrative; she is no Nicole Kidman, roles have all but dried up, so moving to Australia has been quite the adjustment on a personal level I am sure, but she is not missing out on acting opportunities

    • Alocin says:

      She is doing the same in Australia – she’s fronting ad campaigns here, plus back in Spain still. There’s a certain level of fame that comes from being Mrs Hemsworth. And she’s a big fish in a relatively small pond.

      There’s an Australian movie and television industry she could tap into from time to time if she really wanted to keep acting – she could definitely be doing cute cameos in movies and tv series as a recognisable face, depending on how much she wanted to work.

  11. Luvpuppy says:

    Elsa Pataky career was as a soap opera actress in Spain. She was not known for her acting skills, but for upgrading in her dating skills. Each man was more famous than the other. She upgraded her looks thru plastic surgery. She won the tittle of queen of plastic in Spain. Face, cheeks, breast, eyes, and but. Her mother is a public relations manager. That is where she gets her saviness. She has a half brother who is 15 years younger than she.so she had younger sibling. I will give her credit where credit is do. She has mamanaged to stay in the public eyes thru her relationships with the men who were the real stars. She was not in demand for roles in Spain or the United States. She was never in the Penelope Cruz category. It is a myth that she gave up roles while married to Chris. She and no one else can say any role she had to turn down for the sake of his career.

    • Eve says:

      “I will give her credit where credit is do. She has mamanaged to stay in the public eyes thru her relationships with the men who were the real stars. She was not in demand for roles in Spain or the United States. She was never in the Penelope Cruz category. It is a myth that she gave up roles while married to Chris.”

      Precisely.

    • lucy2 says:

      I thought I was missing something that she’d been some in demand actress prior to him!

    • Fruitsaladmorning says:

      I’ve read various comments from Europeans saying she was Julia Roberts level in Spain, France, and elsewhere in Europe. If she was only soap-opera level, she certainly acted in a lot of films and got some decent advertising contracts.

  12. perplexed says:

    She must be mesmerizing to men if a man was willing to buy a castle for her. Some women get diamonds; she gets a castle!

  13. xdanix says:

    While it was definitely Chris’ idea to move (he’s talked before about having to persuade her), it doesn’t seem like it’s been a bad move for them. She has talked glowingly about loving life in Australia, and seems very happy in their life there. In a LOT of paparazzi shots of her there, she’s often surrounded by family and friends, and looks very happy.

    And to be fair to the guy, he’s not blind to the fact that she’s had to sacrifice around his career- because yeah, while their careers were definitely on different trajectories, she did have her own going, which has definitely taken a backseat to his, and their young family. That couldn’t have been easy, especially while his was going so far so fast. And he’s recognised that- he’s said repeatedly that she’s had to make sacrifices that he hasn’t. So at least in that respect, he’s not blind to it, or ignoring it- he’s very grateful that she was willing to do it.

    At the end of the day, whatever we think of their relationship or her “thirst levels”, as I’ve seen them described more than once (I wouldn’t put it that way myself, I quite like Elsa, but I couldn’t think of another way of putting it!), they seem very happy, and very much in love. I read in an interview that he said he knew he was in love with her pretty much on meeting her, and she knew not long after. To their credit, nearly a decade and 3 kids later, and probably a lot of Hollywood craziness (or the potential for it, anyway) and long-distance complications and all that later, they still seem to adore each other, and have fun together. They’ve made a lovely life for their beautiful little children. More power to them, I say!

  14. Fruitsaladmorning says:

    I actually don’t mind Elsa. She was/is Julia-Roberts-level (JR at her A list peak) in Europe so she’s was/is a mega star over there. I think CH genuinely wanted to get out of LA bc as he said he wanted his life to be more than about the acting business. And I do think Elsa sacrificed her European career for both herself (she wanted to start a family) and Chris.

    • Gabbygirl2 says:

      Elsa was not at a Julia Roberts of Spain or Europe level in films at anytime. Julia was a money making force at the box office. Elsa popularity was along the Kim Kardashian mode. She was well known for whom she was dating and appearing in low budget films that some Americans would refer to as soft core porn. She was a publicity queen. Many are now saying the only reason that she is getting covers in Australia is because of Chis connections and friendships. What major films has she been in Spain or Europe in the last eight years? The Fast and Furious franchise was American and started during her marriage to Chris. Coincidentally, universal is the company that produced the Furious franchise. Also Chris was signed for a three picture deal with Universal. Snow White and the Huntsman, the Huntsman, and the lsequel to Snowwhite. That’s the same time period that Elsa got her role in the Furious franchise. More coincidentally, now that Chis contract with Universal is over, Elsa’s character was killed off. I give you three guesses how she got that part in Chris current film “12 Strong “? Please feel free to inform me who is beating down her door with offers in Spain, Europe, the United States or Australia? As for Chris, his career may fizzle now that his Marvel contract is over. That means it’s over for his wife as well.

      • Fruitsaladmorning says:

        Thanks for the info. I’d read posters online (at IMDB when it still had comments) saying she was A list, like Julia Roberts. Maybe PR posters.

        Well, Chris certainly doesn’t mind her leveraging his name. I saw several of her films and they were certainly really racy with a lot of nudity but I thought maybe it was bc they were European (nudity no big deal). Still I don’t mind her. I don’t know why. Her interviews aren’t PhD theses and she’s no acting talent but she doesn’t seem too fake.

  15. Taxi says:

    I never heard of her until after she married Chris. When she was preggers with the twins, she did seem to crave/hog a lot of red carpet time doing belly shots.,

  16. minx says:

    I know she’s had work done but she is beautiful.

  17. Jayna says:

    Elsa is very striking. She has a pretty accent. I think Chris is so laid back, that her confident and outgoing personality is probably another thing that drew him to her.

  18. Lea says:

    I’m French and Elsa Pataky was definitely not Julia Roberts-level here. I can only think of one movie she appeared in, and let me tell you, it wasn’t a masterpiece, she was not the main character and she ended up dating the main actor – who is a well known French comedian. I don’t think a lot of people remember her at all.
    I think she was looking for a rich husband/baby daddy from the beginning.