Hollywood Down Under: stars flock from US to film in Covid-free Australia

Blessed with sunny weather, diverse locations and a ready-made film industry, Sydney and the Gold Coast have become movie powerhouses

On a warmish Wednesday evening early in the year, Paul Mescal was celebrating his birthday and everybody seemed to know. The Irish actor, famous for his neckchain and his leading role in Normal People, was in Sydney, Australia, for a new film, and the word was spreading. He was photographed running in Centennial Park. He was sighted at Tamarama Beach. He popped into an inner-city pub.

But on the list of stars now working in Australia, Mescal - in Sydney for a musical film adaptation of Carmen - is comfortably mid-level. Thanks to its relative freedom from Covid-19 and associated restrictions, Australia - blessed with diverse locations, sunny weather and a ready-made film infrastructure - has become Hollywood Down Under.