An Australian actor, Heath Ledger grabbed limelight in America with the teen comedy 10 Things I Hate About You. However, it was role in Brokeback Mountain that made him a star and earned him comparisons with greats actors like Marlon Brando. The brilliant actor gave his last performance as Joker in The Dark Knight which became a massive success.
Daniel Ricciardo is an Italian-Australian racing driver. He currently competes in Formula One for McLaren. Over the years, Ricciardo has had eight Grand Prix victories, including a win at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix, in Formula One. He has also received several awards like BRDC The Bruce McLaren Trophy. In 2014, he was named GQ Australia Sportsman of the Year.
Melissa George is an Australian actress and former national rollerskating champion. One of the few sportswomen to make a serious impact as an actress, Melissa George received a Golden Globe Award nomination for playing Laura Hill on the popular American drama television series, In Treatment. She is also credited with inventing a fashion device called Style Snaps.
Australian actress, Katherine Langford, gained international fame with her role in the Netflix TV series 13 Reasons Why. She developed an early interest in acting despite not having any family connection to the field. Active in the entertainment industry since 2015, she has been nominated for many awards, including a Golden Globe.
Josephine Langford is an Australian actress who started her career at a young age. Initially interested in music, Langford was classified as a talented composer in her secondary school. Following in the footsteps of her older sister Katherine Langford, she took acting classes at the age 13. Her success story serves as an inspiration to many young Australian talents.
Four-time Miles Franklin Award-winning Australian author Tim Winton excels in both adult and children’s books. Having written international bestsellers, such as the Booker Prize-shortlisted The Riders, he has been declared a Living Treasure in Australia. He is devoted to marine conservation and often describes coastal Western Australia in his novels.
The cofounder of the Australia’s iconic rock band, INXS, Andrew Farriss also serves as its main songwriter, keyboardist, guitarist, and backing vocalist. Opening his first band, Doctor Dolphin, while in high school, he later joined The Farriss Brothers before cofounding The Vegetables, which later became INXS. Winner of many awards, he released his debut album at the age of 62.
Australian billionaire businessman Andrew Forrest, or Twiggy, also made Australia’s biggest charity contribution, of A$655 million, in 2019. The former Fortescue Metals Group CEO has now deviated to farming and has targeted the milk and dairy demands of China. In 2021, his foundation slammed China’s treatment of the Uighurs.
Margaret Court is an Australian retired tennis player. She is a former world No. 1 with 24 Grand Slam women's singles titles to her name. She also holds 19 Grand Slam doubles titles and 21 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. She is considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Following her retirement, she became a Christian minister.
Danny Green is an Australian retired boxer who held several titles like the WBA light-heavyweight title, the WBC interim super-middleweight title, and the IBO cruiserweight title. Green's career inspired a 2006 documentary titled The Fight Game. An avid surfer, Green saved a man's life at Yallingup beach for which he was honored with a bravery award by the Australian Government.
Gina Rinehart is an Australian heiress and mining magnate. She is currently serving as the executive chairman of a privately-owned mineral extraction company called Hancock Prospecting and is credited with expanding the company. In 2012, she became the world's richest woman after overtaking Christy Walton and was named in Forbes magazine's The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women list.
Australian TV and radio host Rove McManus soared to fame with the show Rove and now also co-owns the TV production company Roving Enterprises. He is also a kangaroo breeder and co-owns a steakhouse too. Fans also know him for the catchphrase “Say hi to your mom for me.”
Pallavi Sharda is an Australian actress and Bharatanatyam dancer. Sharda, who is of Indian origin, has appeared in many Indian films in addition to playing important roles in Australian films. Pallavi Sharda was featured in the 40 most influential Asian Australians list at the first Asian-Australian Leadership Summit in 2019.
Better known as Rooney from Chicken Girls, singer-actor Indiana Massara is also known for her chartbusting single Drama. An athletic person since childhood, Massara was, however, initially rejected in auditions for being too tall. She walked the LA Fashion Week at 13 and has a huge fan base on Instagram.
Lang Hancock was an Australian business magnate remembered for discovering the largest iron ore deposit in the world in 1952. He went on to become one of the richest entrepreneurs in Australia and established himself as one of the most popular and influential men. A controversial personality, Hancock's personal life, especially his marriage to Rose Porteous, overshadowed his professional achievements.
Eamon Sullivan is an Australian retired sprint swimmer and former world record holder. He is best known for his performance in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, where he won two silver medals and one bronze medal. Eamon Sullivan also won two gold medals at the World Championships and three gold medals at the Commonwealth Games during his career.
Best known as pirate Calico Jack Rackham from the series Black Sails, Australian actor Toby Schmitz has also penned award-winning plays such as Lucky. Initially aspiring to be a lawyer, he later switched to theater and appeared on stage in many Sydney Theatre Company productions.
Best known for hosting Channel Nine’s 6pm bulletin and Today, Georgie Gardner started her TV career as a weather reporter. Apart from being a news anchor and journalist, she has also been a radio host and won Australian radio’s most prestigious award, RAWARD, in her debut year.
Best known as the host of shows such as Australia's Funniest Home Video Show, Jo Beth Taylor had stepped into showbiz as a singer at age 5. She quit her career abruptly in 1997, which she later claimed was a decision made to avoid a stalker and malicious rumors.
Donna Burke is an Australian singer, narrator, voice actress, and businesswoman. Apart from contributing to anime songs and TV commercials as a voice actress, Burke also contributes as a lyricist. In 2007, a documentary named Climate in Crisis which was narrated by her won the silver medal at the New York Television Festival.
While he once worked as a flight lieutenant in the RAAF, actor Allan Cuthbertson was later typecast in roles of stern military officials, dignitaries, or other high-ranking officials. He first gained fame as Romeo in a Boltons production of Romeo and Juliet and later as Colonel Hall in Fawlty Towers.