Hollywood actor Chris Hemsworth has taken on a new kind of starring role — as co-owner of Archie Rose, Australia's most awarded distillery, with the Melbourne-born star set to help drive the Sydney-based spirits brand into international markets, starting with the United States later this year.

Hemsworth, best known globally for playing Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has acquired an undisclosed stake in Archie Rose alongside founder Will Edwards. The partnership has been in the works quietly for more than a year, with the two men brought together through a mutual friend before the timing and fit aligned into a formal business arrangement.

A Fan-Turned-Co-Owner of Archie Rose

The actor, who was born in Melbourne and spent part of his childhood in the outback Northern Territory town of Bulman, says his connection to Archie Rose runs deeper than a business opportunity.

"I've been a fan of Archie Rose for a long time," Hemsworth said in a statement. "Wherever I am in the world, tasting an Archie Rose whisky immediately transports me right back home, to that feeling of sitting around a campfire in the Australian bush with my mates."

Hemsworth cited the distillery's commitment to using only Australian-grown malts across its Sydney operations — which include the original Rosebery site and bar, opened in 2015, and a production facility in Banksmeadow — as a key point of pride. "They're a brilliant example of what Australia does best, and I can't wait to share that with the world," he said.

An Old Fashioned drinker with a particular fondness for the brand's rye malt whisky, Hemsworth will not be stepping behind the still. The distilling will remain firmly in the hands of master distiller Dave Withers, a two-time winner of distiller of the year at the Spirits Business Awards. "Chris is very comfortable leaving the distilling to the distillers," Edwards said.

Behind the Scenes for Over a Year

The partnership has been kept deliberately low-profile, with Hemsworth working mostly over email and phone, as well as making in-person visits to the Banksmeadow facility. Staff were told he was scouting the location for a film role.

Edwards recalled one visit that tested the secrecy of the arrangement. Rather than slipping away after his tour, Hemsworth headed to the staff lunchroom, made himself a coffee, and settled in with the team. "I'm like, 'Oh my god' — we're trying to keep this low key, and he's just hanging out," Edwards said.

Despite not actively seeking a business partner when the two first met, Edwards says the collaboration quickly felt right. "If you had asked me before this happened to pick someone to partner with, Chris Hemsworth would have been No.1 on the list," he said. "He's the best possible partner. He's an Australian icon and he's a really good bloke. There's no kind of pretence, he's willing to get his hands dirty and get involved in stuff."

Taking Archie Rose to the Global Stage

Hemsworth's role within the business will focus on creative strategy — including product redesign, content development and the planning of Archie Rose's US market launch. Edwards noted he had been more hands-on than anticipated. "He's been very involved in that, more than I thought he would have been," he said.

The investment arrives as the Australian spirits sector continues to grow. The local market was reported to be worth $5.6 billion in 2024, while the US spirits market — where Archie Rose plans to make its push — is currently valued at $172 billion, with forecasts suggesting it will grow by a further $17 billion over the next five years. More than one-third of the US market is whisky-based, making it a compelling entry point for an Australian single malt brand.

Archie Rose itself is no newcomer to the industry. When Edwards lodged the development application for the original Rosebery site, it became the first independent distillery to open in the City of Sydney in generations — a milestone that has since been followed by a shelf full of international accolades.