Chris Hemsworth Credits ‘Home and Away’ Past For Hollywood Success [VIDEOS]

Chris Hemsworth has credited his soap opera stint as reason for his success. The 31-year-old Aussie hunk was a “Home and Away” actor for three years before he became a Hollywood star.

Hemsworth played student-turned-lifeguard Kim Hyde in the long-running series from 2004 until 2007. He transferred to the U.S. to focus on his film career, and was promptly rewarded when he scored the title character in the Marvel superhero flick “Thor” in 2011. Since then he has landed major roles with reputable directors like Ron Howard, and alongside some of the industry’s greatest names, including Natalie Portman, Charlize Theron, Ed Helms, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson and Robert Downey Jr.

His success in the States doesn’t mean he has turned his back on his roots, though. If anything, he is thankful of his past because that’s what made him what he is today.

Speaking with “Today” reporter Richard Wilkins, Hemsworth said he was thankful to be part of the “Avengers” series as it is a “once in a lifetime opportunity,” but admitted that he was unsure of taking the role of Thor back then.

“It all sounded a little ridiculous when I read the script and it was this demi god, red cape and a matching hammer. I thought I needed a job, though, so I’ll throw my hat in the ring,” he said. “To have come this far with it and have this much success, I didn’t imagine it.”

He wouldn’t have all this success without his experience in Summer Bay, though.

“I think my upbringing here in Australia and working on ‘Home and Away,’ the people I met there, the lessons I learnt, I really took all that work ethic and that experience over there [Hollywood],” he explained. “I think that’s what pays off, you know. Hollywood loves people who work hard and I think Australians have that in spades.”

Hemsworth is also proud of his brothers, Luke and Liam, who are both actors. Liam also has a string of film success, including “The Hunger Games” series, while Luke has shot a pilot for HBO.

The actor has three children with wife Elsa Pataky, a 2-year-old daughter named India Rose and eight-month-old twin sons Tristan and Sasha.

“It’s the best thing in the world,” he said of his family. “It’s why I work now. I used to work for me selfishly in the past, and now you do it for them and for the family and it’s much more rewarding.”

Hemsworth has several films lined up for 2015, namely “Black Hat,” “In the Heart of the Sea,” “Vacation” and “Avengers: Age of Ultron.”