‘Thor’ Actor Chris Hemsworth Pledges $1 Million to Fight Australian Wildfires, Pleads for Donations

Chris Hemsworth. Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Actor Chris Hemsworth, best known for his portrayal of Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has stepped up along with his family to donate $1 million to help fight the wildfires devastating Australia.

In a video that’s been viewed over 6 million times on Instagram and 2 million times on Twitter, Hemsworth told fans:

“What we need is your support and your donations. I’m going to put forward a million dollars and I was hoping that all of you could contribute in any way, shape or form. Every dollar counts.

“In my bio, I’ve added links to support the firefighters, organisations and charities who are working flat out to provide support and relief during this devastating and challenging time.”

As the wildfire crisis in Australia increases to monumental proportions, with the areas burned equaling the size of Vermont and New Hampshire combined, Hemsworth and other actors and actresses from the country are stepping to make generous donations to the firefighters battling the blaze.

Other Hemsworth contributors included the eldest brother, Luke Hemsworth, who starred in Australian soap opera “Neighbours,” and younger brother Liam Hemsworth, known for his role in the “Hunger Games” franchise.

Liam Hemsworth is no stranger to the devastation that wildfires have brought after he and once-significant-other Miley Cyrus lost their Malibu, California, home to a devastating fire in 2018. Posting a picture of the ruins of their burnt-out home, the actor wrote: “It’s been a heartbreaking few days. This is what’s left of my house.”

The massive donation from the Hemsworths also comes on the heels of several other celebrities, Australian and otherwise, coming forward to give at a time when fires have literally scarred the country.

Meanwhile, Australian singer sisters Kylie and Dannii Minogue donated $500,000 to the cause. In an Instagram post showing Kylie standing in the smoky countryside, she wrote:

“Returning home to such devastation throughout much of the country is heartbreaking. [...] Big or small, from near or far, any support will help those affected by the devastating bushfires.”

Chris Hemsworth and wife Elsa Pataky at the 2017 Golden Globe Awards  ©Getty Images | Frazer Harrison

In an Instagram video, actress Margot Robbie showed family pictures showing the beauty of the country down under and made a desperate plea to followers:

“I wanted you to see how beautiful our country is because it is so beautiful and it’s really, really hurting right now. And it really, really needs you to please, please donate anything you can.”

But the biggest celebrity donation came from comedian Celeste Barber, who raised over $40 million via Facebook and shows no signs of slowing down. Barber has called on the world’s billionaires, some of whom donated massive sums of money after a fire ravaged the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris in April 2019, to put forward similar sums to help stop the fires.

Barber shared: “Please help anyway [sic] you can. This is terrifying.” Her plea helped galvanize tremendous support for the New South Wales Rural Fire Service & Brigades Donations Fund. She recently asked social media users if they could help reach an even larger target of $50 million.