Samara Weaving, Margot Robbie, the Hemsworth brothers – it seems like the world just can’t get enough of young Australian superstars. But this should come as no surprise! Australia has a long history of hugely influential pop culture icons.
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In this article, we list down 5 of the greatest Australian icons that the world has ever seen. So get your boomerang and your Ugg boots out, because we’re gonna indulge in a bit of national pride!
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The Top 5 Aussie Icons
5. Air Supply
Take Graham Russell’s songwriting skills and add it to the incredible vocal prowess of Russell Hitchcock. What do you get? A global sensation called Air Supply. The soft-rock duo rocked the world back in the day with songs like Even the Nights Are Better, Young Love, and Making Love Out Of Nothing At All. Air supply was a pop-culture sensation and a music staple back in the ‘80s. They have been together for more than 30 years and are still performing and touring the world today! In the world of music, Air Supply is definitely one of the most iconic duos out there.
4. Steve Irwin
Steve Irwin will forever be remembered as one of the greatest Australian characters to ever live! His show The Crocodile Hunter taught the whole world about the amazing biodiversity of Australia. Because of his courage, his charisma, and his infectious enthusiasm; his legacy will continue to live on even after his tragic death in 2006.
When it comes to Australian TV personalities, Steve Irwin is the GOAT.
3. Catherine Freeman
One of the most famous Australian heroes of the ‘90s! At just 16 years old, Cathy Freeman won a gold medal in The Commonwealth Games! At the time she was the youngest gold-medalist ever and the first Aboriginal sporting icon the world had ever seen. She has set dozens of sprinting records and boasts a personal best of 400m in 48.3 seconds – the sixth-best in the world.
2. Olivia Newton-John
Olivia Newton-John easily deserves a spot on any list of the most famous Australian icons! She’s an absolute music legend with an unbelievable list of achievements! She’s a four-time Grammy award winner, with multiple albums reaching platinum status. She’s a fantastic actress – well known for playing the role of Sandy in the film adaptation of Grease. She’s also been a recipient of a ridiculous amount of honorifics that range from charity awards to an induction into the Australian Recording Industry Hall of Fame.
1. Hugh Jackman
The Great Barrier Reef, Vegemite, the Sydney Opera House…most people would recognise these as ‘iconic Australian things’. But in the grand scheme of Aussie culture, is their anything that’s truly more Australian than Hugh Michael Jackman!
Hugh Jackman is known worldwide for his acting work – whether he’s slashing his way as the Wolverine or flaunting his Amazing costumes as P.T. Barnum. But did you know that he can sing and dance as well? In 2004, Jackman won a Tony Award for best actor for his role in The Boy from Oz. And to add to a long list of awards, Jackman also holds an Emmy, not for singing, but for hosting the Tony Awards.
Actor, singer, dancer, and host? Hugh Jackman is a Jack of all trades, so when it comes to Australian iconic people, Hugh is the best of the best!
Conclusion
Thanks to the icons we mentioned above, the world recognises Australian talent as the gold standard in almost every industry! Whether it’s sporting, music, film, or theatre, the world knows that Aussies get the job done!
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