From Thor to Fleabag, stars dig deep for Australian bushfire relief

Twenty-six people have died since the start of the disaster in September, more than 2,000 homes have been destroyed, and some eight million hectares (80,000 square kilometres) has burned — an area roughly the size of Ireland or South Carolina.

Aussie A-listers donate

Australian Marvel actor Chris Hemsworth said he would donate AUS$1 million.

Singers Kylie and Danni Minogue pledged AUS$500,000 to the country’s rural firefighters, a donation matched by Nicole Kidman and her husband Keith Urban.

Compatriots including Russell Crowe — who used his Golden Globe win to speak about the tragedy — and Rebel Wilson have pledged donations, with singer Dami Im also donating.

Fire trucks in action during a bushfire in Werombi, 50km south west of Sydney, Australia, 06 December 2019. EPA-EFE/MICK TSIKAS

Serena plays for charity

Athletes like Lewis Hamilton; tennis players Ashleigh Barty, Maria Sharapova and Novak Djokovic; and cricketers — including Chris Lynn and Glenn Maxwell — offered to donate their winnings.

On Wednesday, organisers of the Australian Open said Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal will headline a charity match ahead of the tournament.

$1m for ‘baggy green’

Many celebrities will auction clothes: Serena Williams is donating a signed dress, while British actor and writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge announced her Golden Globes suit would be auctioned off, and Shane Warne sold his baggy green cap to an anonymous bidder for AUS$1 million.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge arrives for the 77th annual Golden Globe Awards ceremony. Picture: EPA-EFE/NINA PROMMER

Kylie contributes

American stars — including Kylie Jenner; singers Pink, Lizzo and Shawn Mendes; talkshow host Ellen DeGeneres; and actor Patricia Arquette — all pledged to contribute to relief efforts.

Leonardo DiCaprio’s environmental group, Earth Alliance, also said it was giving US$3 million.

Rocket Man

Elton John announced during a performance on Tuesday he would donate $1 million, and Metallica said they would give $500,000 to the county’s fire service.

Celebrities such as Margot Robbie, Naomi Watts, Hugh Jackman, and Selena Gomez also announced they had donated but declined to state how much.

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