Naming and Shaming of Australian Celebrities

WITH the announcement of the 2010 Primetime Emmy Nominations last night, Australians across the globe felt an immense sense of pride. Toni Collette and Rose Byrne will represent the Australian acting talent and the Australian WWII series, The Pacific received 24 nominations. However, the talk of the blogosphere is the snobbery of Simon Baker and Rachel Griffths.

Western Sydney born actress Toni Collette was nominated again for her role as Tara Gregson in United States of Tara. Although Collette had won the award year, punters are putting their money on Glee star Lea Michele to take out the gong. I will also be cheering for Broadway star Michele.

Inner-West Sydney born actress Rose Byrne was also nominated for best supporting drama actress with her role in the thriller Damages. Last year, she narrowly missed out to Cherry Taylor, who played the president on Fox drama 24. Critics are claiming this year is not looking much better for Miss Byrne.

The Australian series The Pacific, based on the adventures of 3 US marines during WWII, came at the top with a total of 24 nominations, including the awards for outstanding casting, visual effects, make-up, costumes and picture editing. However, not a single actor was chosen for a nomination. This of course includes Melbourne born actress Isabel Lucas. Australians are claiming The Pacific as their own since Seven Network invested in the project for the right to broadcast it in Australia. At AUD $134 million to make it was Australia's most expensive production in history. Australian crew members nominated for Emmys for their work on The Pacific include art director Richard Hobbs, casting director Christine King and make-up artist Chiara Tripodi. Although it should be noted that the mini series was spearheaded by Americans Steven Speilberg, Bruce McKenna and Tom Hanks (also narrated). Those heavyweight names surely couldn't hurt either?

It is a shame though that Tasmanian Devil, Simon Baker, was largely overlooked for his role in the drama series, The Mentalist. A year ago Baker was TV's golden boy, picking up a nomination for lead actor in a drama series for his super sleuth role as Patrick Jane. However, when nominations were revealed on Thursday in Los Angeles he was left out. Although, he will sure be a dazzler at the annual event.

Brothers and Sisters actress, Rachel Griffiths was also snubbed for a nomination at the 62nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards. Although, the Melbournian played a major role in this seasons series she was still overlooked to actresses such as Byrne and The Good Wife actresses Archie Panjabi and Christine Baranski Mad Men actresses Christina Hendricks and Elisabeth Moss. Well at least she has Frenchman Luc's shoulders to cry on.

New Zealand born actor Russell Crowe has been claimed as one of our own as too has Hawaiian Nicole Kidman and New Zealander Keith Urban. It then puzzels me why as Australians we are so quick to claim others as our own and then when they do not invoke the Australian 'spirit' we throw them back out into the Pacific so quickly.
At one stage we claimed New York born actor Mel Gibson as one of our own. Having moved here at age 12 Gibson's first American film was not until he was 28 years old, which in Hollywood standards claim he sould have already starred in a $20 mil movie and already be managing his own merchandise.

Nonetheless, we were proud of the fact that he attended Sydney's prestigious acting school NIDA and later invested millions into creating a brighter future for the school, his breakthrough role was in the Australian movie Mad Max and he was apart of the movement dubbed "The Australian New Wave" by film critics. However, with the recent domestic violence allegations made against him by his former girlfriend Russian Oksanka Grigorieva, Australians have been quick to refer to him as being another arrogant 'American'. If Gibson returns to his former glory will Australian's reclaim him? This is yet to be known.

xx KC&CC.