Star of the Highest-Grossing Movie of All Time Turns 50

Sam Worthington is turning 50, 17 years after leading the highest-grossing movie of all time.

The Australian actor, born in England and raised in Perth, was largely unknown outside his home country before landing the role of Jake Sully in Avatar. Before that breakthrough, Worthington had sold nearly everything he owned and was living out of his car, sleeping on a mattress in the back of a hatchback.

“I sold everything I owned to my mates because I didn’t like who I was,” Worthington told Variety. He said he needed to get away from the pressures of being recognized around Sydney following his earlier work in Australian film and television.

Worthington’s audition for Avatar almost didn’t happen the way anyone expected. The project was shrouded in secrecy at the time, and Worthington said he wasn’t given much information about the role. Frustrated with the process, he responded by spitting his gum at the camera during his audition tape instead of reading the scene as instructed.

Rather than costing him the part, that reaction reportedly caught director James Cameron’s attention. Worthington went through months of additional auditions before landing the role that would change his career.

Avatar premiered in 2009 and became a global phenomenon, going on to become the highest-grossing film in box office history. The role transformed Worthington from a relatively unknown actor with a handful of Australian film credits into an international star almost overnight.

He has since reprised the role of Jake Sully in multiple sequels, including Avatar: The Way of Water and Avatar: Fire and Ash, with additional installments in the franchise still to come.

Despite his newfound fame, Worthington has spoken candidly about how difficult the transition was, admitting he struggled with the sudden attention that came with global stardom.

Before Avatar, Worthington had already built a respected career in Australian cinema, including winning the Australian Film Institute’s Best Actor award in 2004 for his role in Somersault.