Without Aussies, There'd Be No Hollywood! Quiz

Answer: Annette Kellerman

Among her many exploits, Sydneysider Annette Kellerman was arrested in Boston in 1907 for violating public decency standards by wearing a one piece bathing suit. She is also believed to have made the first nude appearance in a major film in 1916's "A Daughter of the Gods". Annette retired to Southport, near Surfers Paradise in Queensland, and lived to the age of 88.

US born Ederle was the first woman to swim the English Channel. Aussies Fraser won Olympic swimming gold in 1956, 1960 and 1964 and Gould won three swimming golds in 1972.

Answer: Orry-Kelly

Kiama, New South Wales born Orry-Kelly was Oscar nominated for "Gypsy" as well as his three wins. After studying art in Sydney, Orry-Kelly moved to New York to pursue an acting career. At one time he shared an apartment with Cary Grant. Orry-Kelly went on to design costumes for "The Maltese Falcon" and "Casablanca" among many other well known films. He was highly sought after and designed costumes for all the 'greats' including Bette Davis and Katharine Hepburn.

The other three costume designers were born in the US.

Answer: Errol Flynn

As well as his portrayal of General Custer in "They Died With Their Boots On", Hobartian Errol Flynn also played the eponymous hero of the critically acclaimed and hugely successful "The Adventures of Robin Hood". According to Wikipedia, the American Boys' Club for the Defense of Errol Flynn ('ABCDEF' - whose members included William F. Buckley Jr.) was formed to support him when he was accused (then acquitted) of statutory rape. His hedonistic life could be described as 'lived fast, died young'.

The other Aussie actor choices are, perhaps happily for them, not considered to be quite so famous.

Answer: May Robson

Nominated as 'Best Actress' for Frank Capra's 1933 film "Lady for a Day", Aussie May Robson (born 1858) is mostly remembered these days for playing Aunt Elizabeth in "Bringing Up Baby". Appearing in 64 films, Ms Robson originally had no intention of being an actress and fell into the profession when she was widowed in 1884.

Ms Ouspenskaya hailed from Russia, Dame May was English and the considerably younger American Ms Francis would presumably have been horrified to find herself on this list.

Answer: Geoffrey Rush

Hailing from Toowoomba in Queensland, Rush achieved the Oscar for his performance in the Australian film "Shine". Geoffrey Rush was lauded as an 'instant' star by Hollywood after some 25 years as a successful actor and has retained world-wide popularity ever since.

Ledger won Best Supporting Actor, and Crowe (lovable Aussie that he is) was, of course, born in New Zealand.

Answer: Louise Lovely

Sydney born Louise Lovely starred in many of her 64 silent movie appearances. After being blacklisted for a year for her walkout, she was employed by Fox until 1922. Shortly after that she moved back to Australia and unsuccessfully attempted (unfortunately like many others after her) to start producing films in Australia. In 1946, Louise moved to Hobart, Tasmania where she ran the confectionery concession in the theatre that her husband managed until she passed away in 1980, aged 85.

The other actresses are all names I randomly found in the IMDb.

Answer: J.P. McGowan

After serving in an Australian contingent in the Boer War, accomplished horseman John McGowan from Terowie in South Australia moved to Hollywood. He acted in 232 films and directed 244, many of them 'shorts'. He married his Chicago born "Hazards" star Helen Holmes who did most of her own stunts including jumping off and onto moving trains (once from a moving car) and falling off buildings. They left the "Hazards" series to form the Signal Film Corporation. McGowan went on to direct many 'B' films including a young John Wayne in the 1932 serial "The Hurricane Express".

Scotsman Frank Lloyd is the only non-American of the other director choices.

Answer: Judith Anderson

Dame Judith Anderson started her acting career in Australia and moved to New York in 1918 where she became one of Broadway's greatest actresses. Dame Judith was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress as Mrs Danvers in her second movie, "Rebecca". She had a highly successful and lengthy career on stage, film (one of her last roles was in "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock") and television.

Of her co-starring alternate choices, Scott was from the US, Sanders from Russia, Carson from Canada and none of them received the recognition they deserved.

Answer: John Farrow

Sydney born Farrow directed 49 feature films (including John Wayne's "Hondo") and wrote 29. In 1936 he married the beautiful and talented Maureen O'Sullivan who he directed in "Tarzan Escapes" and with whom he had seven children. Farrow's most famous progeny is daughter Mia which means, if he hadn't had a heart attack in 1963, he would have been the father-in-law of Frank Sinatra, André Previn and (if they'd married) Woody Allen.

The other director Oscar nominees are, of course, all Australians too.

Answer: Judy Davis

Judy Davis is one of the most enduring Australian stars of the current era. In addition to Lean (with whom she famously clashed on the set of "A Passage to India"), she has worked with directors such as the Coen brothers and Woody Allen, who is recorded as stating she's "one of the most exciting actresses in the world". Judy has received the BAFTA Award and numerous other awards and nominations in addition to her Oscar nominations.

The other actresses are also all Aussies, naturally.