Does Chris Hemsworth have plans of slowing down?
After almost a decade in film, the 32-year-old Australian dreamboat has garnered a steady stream of blockbuster hit roles, most notably his perpetual reign as the iconic superhero Thor.
At home, he's welcomed three children—India Rose, 3, and twin sons Tristan and Sasha, 1—with his wife of five years, Spanish actress Elsa Pataky.
With this laundry list of success in Hollywood, his recent relocation to his native Australia begs one simple question—why?
"In the space of three years, we had our kids and simultaneously my career was happening, and everything changed," he told Parade. "We'd leave the house and there would be six paparazzi out in front. In L.A., more than anywhere else in the world, paparazzi are everywhere, 24/7. We felt suffocated. The agitation you feel from the paparazzi rippled in the house."
"It's just a quiet little surf town with a lot of farming, an hour and a half outside of Melbourne," he said. "There are other things in my life now—family, kids."
While he welcomes the change of scenery, Hemsworth recognizes the potentially negative effect his departure from the mecca of film may have on his burgeoning career.
"I don't want to have to be in the position where I care if the phone stops ringing. I'm OK about potentially not acting," he admitted. "That just may be me trying to convince myself in case it does happen, but I've always been weirdly aware of that."
As the pros and cons of his move are still weighed, one thing is clear—he can finally spend time with his family in peace.
"Last week, we were in the car driving somewhere and my little girl was in the back seat with me. I was really tired, and I leaned over and I put my head on her lap," he shared. "She started patting my head and singing a song through her pacifier."
"There's the idea that we as parents spend all this time protecting our children. No, I think they're protecting us. Sitting in the car with my head on her lap and her singing to me, there was this understanding of, 'Wow she's looking after Dad, and that's her job.' You know? And that was such a joy. Oh, there's nothing better! It was the happiest moment of my life."