Actors Chris Hemsworth and Viola Davis are celebrating their birthdays today.
Chris Hemsworth, 31
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Australian actor Chris Hemsworth turns 31 today. In 2004, Hemsworth starred in the Australian soap opera Home and Away, appearing in 171 episodes of the series. He left the cast in July 2007. Hemsworth was a contestant on the fifth season of Dancing with the Stars Australia, in 2006, and was eliminated after six weeks. In 2009, Hemsworth portrayed James T. Kirk's father, George Kirk, in the opening scenes of J. J. Abrams' film Star Trek. He played the character Kale in the thriller A Perfect Getaway the same year.
He went on to play Sam in Ca$h, which was the first film he shot when he arrived in the United States. He is best known for his role as the Marvel Comics superhero Thor in the 2011 Marvel Studios film Thor. He reprised the role in the 2012 film The Avengers.
Hemsworth starred opposite Kristen Stewart in the film Snow White & the Huntsman. He also played Jed Eckert in the 2012 Red Dawn remake. Hemsworth received the part of Thor two days after being hired for Red Dawn.
Hemsworth is married to Spanish actress, Elsa Pataky. They have three children, a daughter, India Rose and twin sons, Tristan and Sasha.
In 2013, Hemsworth starred in Ron Howard's sports drama film Rush, alongside Daniel Bruhl as 1976 Formula 1 World Champion James Hunt. He also reprised his role as Thor, in the sequel Thor: The Dark World. Hemsworth will again reprise his role as Thor in the 2015 sequel, Avengers: Age of Ultron.
Viola Davis, 49
image courtesy of Jennifer Graylock/INFphoto.com
Film, television and theater actress Viola Davis turns 49 today. In 2001, Davis won the Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award for her portrayal of Tonya in the production of King Hedley II. Davis appeared in numerous films, including three films directed by Steven Soderbergh including Out of Sight, Solaris and Traffic, as well as Syriana, which Soderbergh produced. Davis was also the uncredited voice of the parole board interrogator who questions Danny Ocean (George Clooney) in Ocean's Eleven.
Her television work includes a recurring role in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and a special guest appearance in "Badge", a Law & Order: Criminal Intent episode. In 2008, Davis played Mrs. Miller in the film adaptation to the Broadway play Doubt, with Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Amy Adams. Davis was nominated for several awards for this performance, including a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
In June 2010, Davis won her second Tony Award for her role as Rose Maxson in a revival of August Wilson's Fences.
In August 2011, Davis played the role of Aibileen Clark in the screen adaptation of Kathryn Stockett's novel The Help. Davis received great critical acclaim, and eventually received two Screen Actors Guild Awards, as well as her second Academy Award nomination, and Golden Globe Award and BAFTA nominations for the same performance. Davis received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2013.
Davis is married to actor Julius Tennon. They have a daughter, Genesis, whom they adopted as a newborn in 2011. Davis is stepmother to Tennon's two sons from previous relationships.
Davis is most recently seen playing James Brown's mother in the biopic Get On Up.
In February of 2014, Davis joined the cast of Shonda Rhimes’ pilot How to Get Away with Murder as the lead character. It was picked up to series for the fall 2014 season.