Actress Naomi Watts, who was born in England but is considered an Australian export, has just had her teenage years dragged out of the past and splashed around the world.
People Magazine unearthed one of Watts’ first theatrical masterpieces — a Tampax commercial from the ’80s. The clip had been sitting quietly under a layer of dust on YouTube since 2007 before it landed in the mainstream on Tuesday.
Like most Hollywood megastars, the Birdman actress had to start somewhere, and that place is often on TV promoting everyday brands.
Not ashamed of her womanhood, the star followed up with another tampon commercial in the ’90s, this time for Libra Fleur. She truly was the face of women’s sanitary products Down Under.
To make Watts feel more comfortable in all her shoulder-padded, boyfriend-jean-wearing glory we dug deep into the archive to pull out some other famous Aussies doing the hard yards earlier in their careers.
Here’s a fresh-faced Russell Crowe promoting Coca-Cola in the ’80s. The Gladiator star was keen on scoring himself some waves, a free can of coke and a Nissan Navara.
Hollywood A-lister Nicole Kidman knows how to rock a broken leg. This ’80s ad shows the curly-haired star deliver a winning performance for the private health insurer of the day, the Medical Benefits Fund of Australia (MBF). Where do we sign?
Kidman’s sister, Antonia, who is a star in her own right in Australia, can be spotted in this chewing gum ad from the ’80s. Juicy Fruit will get your career going, apparently.
And a special mention goes to Crocodile Dundee Paul Hogan, who spread misinformation to millions of Americans in the ’80s with this iconic ad. It is still a daily struggle to explain that we eat prawns, not shrimp, and we don’t start every sentence with “G’Day.” Thanks 1984 Hogan, from 2015 Australia.
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