They may have perfected the American accent, but some of Hollywood’s biggest names are Australian.

Many of the Australian actors, directors, writers and crew currently working in Hollywood began learning their skills at NIDA, the National Institute of Dramatic Arts.

John Clark, NIDA’s director for 35 years, set a goal from the beginning: to unlock a distinctive Australian style of acting that combines London theater with Hollywood gloss, but still allows Australia’s national characteristics to shine through.

“They play characters with such conviction and real character,” said Clark, now 92. “Without what Australians call decoration.”

Who is NIDA?

Sarah Snook just got rid of him Emmy-winning breakthrough role The actor, who played Shiv Roy in “Succession” and is currently playing all 26 roles in the staging of “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” learned to mask his Australian accent at NIDA.

He was in the class of 2008 and was one of only 24 accepted that year. The school’s acceptance rate is barely 2% – Hugh Jackman and Naomi Watts were among them rejected. Alumni include Mel Gibson, Cate Blanchett, director Baz Luhrmann and his wife, four-time Oscar-winning costume and production designer Catherine Martin.

Luhrmann still relies on NIDA training.

“I remember one thing. And I think it’s kind of an Australian attitude: ‘Don’t wait for permission to be told you can play,'” Luhrmann said.

The growth of the Australian acting and directing scene

Luhrmann was at NIDA when he designed “Strictly Ballroom.” Within a few years he turned the play into a cult hit film with an all-Australian cast and crew. This was in 1992 and soon Australian talent started filtering through. Now Aussies are filling IMDB pages and call sheets, bringing heroes and villains to the big screen, earning top billing and big awards. Australians have become to Hollywood what Kenyans are to marathon running: wildly overrepresented.

“It’s gotten to the point where there are so many Australian actors and actresses behind the scenes, in the writing and directing, that even I, especially with the actors, have to be told, ‘Oh, you know, X is Australian.’ So, ‘Oh, I didn’t know that,'” Luhrmann said. “Because they really are everywhere. Now, NIDA was a really big part of this because I think it kind of sets the culture and attitude.”

Luhrmann believes the “don’t wait for permission” attitude that NIDA instilled in its first graduates is reflected in a broader understanding of what it means to be an artist in Australia.

“You know, throwing yourself off a cliff and flying,” he said.

Other names from outside Australia are Margot Robbie, Chris Hemsworth, Toni Collette and Geoffrey Rush.

Australian theaters and soap operas have played a part in this rise, helping actors hone their skills and, in some cases, launch their careers.

“Australia has great training grounds for international work,” said Sarah Snook. “There’s a way to test yourself in Australia. And you can kind of fail safely.”

Bringing Australian ethos to Hollywood

Snook grew up as a typical Australian freelance kid. He was riding his bike around a national park in South Australia where kangaroos live. These experiences and the self-confidence he developed helped his career.

“They build your character so you can play other characters,” he said.

Australians are also known for taking it more seriously than they do in the entertainment industry.

“There’s an understanding that it’s all smoke and mirrors a lot of the time. And it’s fun. And it’s a game,” Snook said. “It’s profound in some ways, but it’s also ridiculous. Just like Chris Hemsworth has a great tongue-and-cheek attitude about it… And also Baz Luhrmann, you know, his movies are a little bit (a) a little tongue-in-cheek or tongue-in-cheek to the audience.” blinking.”

And Luhrmann believes Australia’s remoteness is a blessing.

“The one thing everyone agrees on with Australia is that it is very, very far away,” he said. “And I think we still think that the idea of ​​being in a movie or a play on Broadway or a television show in Hollywood is still a romantic idea. It’s still a privilege. It’s not a job. It’s a dream.”