Chris Hemsworth hosted an exclusive first look of his new blockbuster, In the Heart of the Sea in Sydney on Tuesday night while shining a light on the Australian Childhood Foundation, a charity that works to protect vulnerable children from abuse, violence and neglect.
The Thor star walked the black carpet at Sydney’s Entertainment Quarter with all proceeds from the charity screening going towards the Australian Childhood Foundation.
Speaking to HuffPost Australia’s editor-at-large, Lisa Wilkinson, the father-of-three revealed his motivation behind bringing the film, which is based on the real events that inspired Herman Melville’s Moby Dick to life.
“It was an opportunity to take a story that we were all aware of -- this epic tale, a seafaring adventure but on a much grander scale than we’ve seen before and I think due to the technology that’s now available and due to [director] Ron Howard, we have something visually stunning but at the centre of it is a beautiful drama,” Hemsworth told The Huffington Post Australia.
Hemsworth revealed the Australian Childhood Foundation was close to his heart and that it was in fact his parents -- who were both social workers -- that inspired him to throw his star power behind the foundation.
“The Australian Childhood Foundation was something my parents have worked with for a number of years and I was inspired by the work they were doing,” Hemsworth said.
“It was lucky enough for my brothers and I to have a wonderful childhood but we were very aware that it wasn’t the case for every kid out there,” Hemsworth said.
Tuesday night’s screening was followed by a charity auction with top prizes including a walk-on role in the upcoming Thor film to be shot on the Gold Coast and a dinner with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Hemsworth.
“We want to raise enough money to set up a trauma recovery centre tonight which is a place where children who have suffered from abuse, neglect and family violence can go and receive very specialised therapeutic counseling and care to aid recovery,” Hemsworth said.
Chris Hemsworth with HuffPost Australia's editor-at-large, Lisa Wilkinson at the charity screening.