Hemsworth hammers on Hollywood's door as Thor

[March 30, 2011]  LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Chris Hemsworth is turning the mighty Thor's fall from grace into his own personal rise to Hollywood stardom.

Hemsworth stars in the title role of "Thor," the Marvel Comics superhero adaptation that opens May 6 to lead off what is expected to be a season of summer blockbusters.

The 27-year-old Australian actor joined distributor Paramount Pictures to show off footage to theater owners Monday night at their CinemaCon convention in Las Vegas, where Hemsworth will receive an award Thursday as male star of tomorrow.

After a six-month casting process, Hemsworth said he felt as if he had won the lottery when he got the role as the fallen Norse god, particularly given his colleagues on "Thor." Among them: Oscar winners Natalie Portman and Anthony Hopkins and director Kenneth Branagh.

[Associated Press; By DAVID GERMAIN]

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