On paper, being married to Chris Hemsworth would be a dream for many women.
But Elsa Pataky is the first to admit that their 10-year marriage has had “ups and downs” and takes “constant work”, as they both juggle their family needs with their demanding careers.
And over the years, there’s been countless claims from those close to the couple that their relationship is in trouble, especially since Chris has spent a large part of the past five years travelling for his career – leaving his wife in Byron Bay looking after their three children much of the time.
But now that beach paradise they call home seems to be the root of recent tension, with residents all but accusing the Hemsworth family of turning Byron into a “mini-Hollywood.”
Ironically, Chris and Elsa left LA to protect their kids India, eight, and six-year-old twins Sasha and Tristan, from the glare of the spotlight, but Byron locals have voiced their growing frustrations at the actor and celebrity friends like Matt Damon having a monopoly on the northern NSW town.
“Hemsworth and the celebrities… we don’t want them here,” says one disgruntled local.
“It’s not the town I grew up in.”
The couple have been the subject of split rumours for a long time
(Credit: Instagram)Only adding to Chris, 37, and 44-year-old Elsa’s stress are recent pictures of him in an embrace with his Thor: Love And Thunder co-star, French actress Pom Klementieff, 34.
The pair were snapped at a cast party to celebrate the start of filming, which was held in a private function room above Nobu restaurant at Sydney’s Crown complex.
“Chris and Pom were chatting for a while, and didn’t know that people were watching on in interest,” says an insider.
“Chris is super kind to everyone he works with, but it doesn’t escape notice that Pom shares a resemblance to Elsa. There’s always gossip on set, so to be a fly on the wall for that bust-up once Chris and Elsa are at home in Byron…”
Chris, here with Pom, is very friendly with his co-stars – some more than others
(Credit: Woman’s Day Exclusive)It’s not the first time Chris has reportedly felt Elsa’s wrath for getting too close to a co-star, including fellow Thor alum Natalie Portman.
“Elsa was not overly thrilled about being home holding the babies while Chris enjoyed witty banter with his Avengers co-star Scarlett Johansson either, though he denied any wrongdoing,” says a source.
While the couple have long dismissed reports their marriage is rocky, it seems they’ve recently broken one of their key rules of parenting their three children.
Pom and Chris go way back – they’ve been in two Avengers movies together.
(Credit: Getty)“We want one of us to be with the kids,” she said in 2018.
“We try not to work at the same time, and not to be separated for two weeks.”
Despite this, as Chris films Thor, Elsa is busy on the other side of Sydney, shooting Carmen with Paul Mescal, 25.
“This move surprised their friends,” says our source.
“Their schedules are packed and these movies could put extra pressure on them, even without Chris getting photographed cosying up to a pretty colleague.”
