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AACTAS award ceremony 2022: Russell Crowe trolls Chris Hemsworth

And that’s a wrap on the 2022 Australian Academy of Cinema Television Arts awards.

The 12th annual AACTAs aired on Channel 10 Wednesday night from Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion, where Chris Hemsworth stole the spotlight as the honoree of the Trailblazer award for his contribution to the entertainment industry following a decade-long reign in the blockbuster Marvel Cinematic Universe and beyond.

AACTA president Russell Crowe presented the coveted award to his co-star, and was probably the only person in the room who could get away with the level of trolling he dished out.

“I said to producers I’d only present this award if we kept it respectful and classy,” Crowe began, as shirtless photos of Hemsworth from his humble Home And Away days flashed onscreen.

“Focusing on the achievements of the individual that we’re honouring. His versatility, his range, and his depth,” Crowe continued, as more shirtless images played.

“You know, at the beginning of his career Chris Hemsworth couldn’t even afford a shirt,” Crowe added, which was met with laughter from the audience.

“Seriously though, the Trailblazer is a special award that recognises Australians who have artistic impact around the world. And this young man has done that like no other.”

Video then played on the big screen with messages of support from Hemsworth’s famous international colleagues, including Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston and Taika Waititi.

During his acceptance speech, Hemsworth, 39, dropped the little-known fact that he secretly adopted Crowe’s vocal tone from Gladiator for his interpretation of Thor.

“I wanna thank Russell Crowe, actually, because his films have inspired me ever since I was a young actor,” Hemsworth began. “Particularly when I first got cast in Thor, (filmmaker) Kenneth Branagh gave me a copy of Gladiator and he said, ‘This is good vocal quality. Good tone’.

“So I spent the next 10 years doing my best Maximus. ‘Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.’” he added, quoting Crowe’s Oscar-winning performance.

Elsewhere, Hemsworth talked about how his biggest fear for his career was ending up in a “mundane” job, and that his rise to blockbuster stardom has been a “dream come true.”

“My parents instilled in me a belief that anything was possible. When I said I wanted to be an actor, they said, ‘Go for it. The couch will be here if it ever fails.’ My beautiful wife who is endlessly encouraging and supportive… Anytime I lift off into the stratosphere she pulls me back to this place and plants my feet on the ground.

“Thank you to everyone who is here tonight… I love you all.”

Rove’s ‘awkward’ cross with Hemsworth

As part of the coverage, comedian Rove McManus roved the room for interview talent and his first prey was none other than Hemsworth. What could’ve possibly gone wrong.

“Do you work out?” McManus asked him, before ever-the-good-sport Hemsworth turned the tables. “Not as much as you, look at those shoulders…” And just when you thought it was already too much, McManus quizzed him about his “shrinkage”.

Referencing Hemsworth’s Disney+ show Limitless, McManus asked, “How does this (AACTAs) compare with having to swim in the Arctic like you did for your Limitless show?”, to which Hemsworth answered, “I’d take this any day.”

McManus questioned, “[Is there] as much shrinkage on stage?”, with Hemsworth awkwardly responding, “Similar.”

“This has not got awkward at all,” McManus finished.

Rebel Wilson’s savage on-air take-down

We’ve come to rely on Rebel Wilson’s gags to liven up the ceremony formalities and this year was exception.

The Pitch Perfect actress was up early and wasted no time having a dig at the Sydney Morning Herald after the Fairfax publication copped backlash for outing her sexuality in June.

“There’s been some big things that have happened in my life this year, big changes … I switched from dairy to soy,” Wilson began her speech. “I thought I’d just tell you guys now and get a jump on the Sydney Morning Herald.”

Wilson’s biting one-liner was met with applause from the audience, and marked the first time she’s used a live platform to address the scandal – which saw journalist Andrew Hornery admit to giving her a two-day deadline to comment publicly on her secret relationship with Ramona Agruma.

Elsewhere in her opener, Wilson, 42, had the audience in stitches with a host of self-deprecating jokes.

“So I hosted the BAFTAs this year … Look at me now! Failing upward,” Wilson said.

“There are so many talented Australian actors in this room, like, you can’t tell who’s disappointed at all. I’m hoping I might get to have a chat with Chris Hemsworth. Maybe I just go up to him and say, ‘Hey I hit my thumb with a hammer and now I’m ‘thor’.”

Wilson capped off her speech with yet another gag while introducing the nominees for Best Supporting Actor in a drama.

“I am thrilled to be presenting the award, because personally, I’m at my best when I’m supporting male actors,” she joked.

Tom Gleeson’s hilarious Logies gag

The comedian took home the Best Comedy Performer award for Hard Quiz – making reference to his infamous 2019 Gold Logie win following a campaign built on mockery.

“You can’t rig this award, so I must deserve this!” Gleeson said. “I think I might be genuinely humbled, thank you.”

He also managed to take a shot at fellow nominee and ABC colleague, Charlie Pickering.

“[He] let me set up the show inside his show, which led to me having my own show, and me hosting the show slightly better than he hosts his show,” Gleeson laughed. “May not have been part of his plan, but thanks Charlie!”

Elsewhere among the winners was Foxtel’s courtroom drama The Twelve, which picked up Best Miniseries, while Leah Purcell won Best Lead Actress for her passion project The Drover’s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson.

Costume designer and four-time Oscar winner Catherine Martin was honoured with the AACTA Longford Lyell Award for her glittering career, which she’s embarked on alongside husband, director Baz Luhrmann.

Breaking news: Austin Butler at the AACTAs*

*via the big screen, but we’ll take it.

The Elvis star won Best Actor for his portrayal of the King in Luhrmann’s biopic, as he graced us with a video message from his lounge room.

“I wish I could be there with you tonight,” Butler said, and same.

“I feel so honoured right now,” he added, going on to thank Luhrmann and his Australian co-star, Olivia DeJonge. “Olivia, you are brilliant. I’m sending you all so much love.”

Elvis cleaned up after scoring 15 nominations, winning Best Film, while Luhrmann also won Best Director. Accepting the award live from London, the famed filmmaker revealed the film almost got canned when Tom Hanks got Covid-19 on the Gold Coast in early 2020.

“It touches you in a different way to be acknowledged by your home team, by my Australian peers. And I want to give a thank you to AACTAs for what they’re doing keeping film and television in front of audiences. You know, this movie almost didn’t happen,” he said.

“When Tom Hanks very famously gets Covid, and then very bravely comes back and joins Austin Butler – who refused to leave – I’ve gotta give great and deep thanks to the cast and crew. Because all of us held this movie in our hands like a precious child through Covid with one goal in our mind. And that goal was to bring audiences back into the theatre, old and young. And it is gratifying that we did it.”

Guy Pearce addresses Neighbours return

A few short months after reprising his role in the Neighbours finale, Pearce has addressed the soap being picked up by Amazon.

The iconic Australian TV show ended in July after 37 years after Fremantle failed to find it a new home. But it will now air on Channel 10 – its old home – and will be available to stream for free on Amazon Freevee in the UK and US.

And the Aussie actor, 55, couldn’t help but have a laugh about it after a Neighbours highlight reel played on the big screen.

“It’s hard to watch, isn’t it? Knowing we’ll never see another episode ever again? A painful reminder that the things that we love can be brutally snatched away, never to return… unless Amazon comes in to save the day and makes our finale look like a rather expensive exercise,” he said.

“I don’t want to say waste of time. But still, I’m sure that Margot Robbie will be happy – she gets her 37 bottles of champagne back.” (Robbie sent the cast 37 bottles on-set).

Tonight’s ceremony will be encored on Fox Docos, Saturday, December 10 at 7.30pm

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