Here at PEDESTRIAN.TV, we try to highlight Aussies doin’ rad stuff overseas as often as possible. Nando’s just so happens to feel equally as passionate about great Aussies doin’ great things, so we partnered up with them to send two of our nation’s finest to LA, where they can do completely excellent stuff like take a surf lesson with Aussie Expat and surf legend Taj Burrow. All the comp deets are below, so get around it for your chance to be a great Aussie kickin’ goals overseas. Nando’s PERi-Perks rewards program has been dishing up all sorts of loving in 2015 and this year will be no different – seeing as only members get it, do yourself a solid and check it out HERE.
We’ll be straight up with you: we’re a pretty talented bunch, us Aussies. So, it makes sense that when the time comes that we reach as far as this nation’s boundless plains can offer, we nick off overseas to secure srs global acclaim.
To honour this Expat tradition, we’ve compiled a list of our nation’s maddest/truest/deepest up-and-coming talent, as well as a few mentions of more established, phresh AF folks who always deserve to be acknowledged.
TROYE SIVAN
Photo: Douglas Gorenstein / Getty.
Time Magazine releases a 25 Most Influential Teens list annually – which, y’know, is one of those poignant ~sign of the times~ situations. In 2014, Aussie actor/singer/songwriter/YouTuber/soon-to-be national icon, Troye Sivan, rightfully made the cut.
The South African-Born, quadruple-threat moved to Australia when he was two years old and still resides in WA. He began establishing his Perthonality status when he performed along side Guy Sebastian at a state Telethon event. After another Telethon performance in 2008, a Hollywood agent saw Sivan’s performance on YouTube and contacted him to send through an audition tape – leading him to be cast as James Howlett in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
He released a five-song EP called TRXYE which, as you probably know, popped off like a gassy newborn. His first studio album, Blue Neighbourhood, reached #6 on the ARIA charts and landed #1 on iTunes in ten countries (including the US).
LOVE YA STUFF, KIDDO.
JAMES WAN
Photo: Gage Skidmore / Wikicommons.
Director, producer and screenwriter, James Wan, began his journey to success in lil’ old Melbourne before moving to Hollywood. His big break came when his small-budget film, Saw – yeah, the one with the red-swirled creep on the bicycle – was picked up in 2004.
He’s since directed Insidious, as well as The Conjuring (we get it dude, you like horror) before he cemented his place in the movie industry with Furious 7 – the latest instalment in the Fast and Furious franchise, and the brilliantly executed tribute to the late Paul Walker.
We’ve heard it on the grapevine that he’s involved in some pretty darn big projects atm so he’s well worth keeping an eye (the ballsy one that isn’t terrified and hiding behind a pillow) on him.
BRIDGET MALCOM
Photo: Adam Jeffery / Getty.
The now NYC-based, homegrown-honey that is Bridget Malcolm has seen a substantial growth in public recognition since last year. Why? Hmmm, it probably has something to do with her werqin’ the crap out of runway for a lil’ brand that you may/may not have heard of called Victoria’s Secret.
As a high-end model, one must act an accordance with the precedent set before her. In keeping with this, Malcom’s dating Walking Shapes’ guitarist, Nathaniel Hoho. #ConsciousPowerCoupling.
We’re looking forward to seeing more of her out there shakin’ that thang.
MARGOT ROBBIE
Photo: Wouter Kingma / Getty.
Neighbours. Everybody, apparently, needs good neighbours. We desperately want to believe that Margot Robbie would be the best goddamn neighbour ever. Why? Because she’s beautiful. Because she generally kills it. And because Leo has crawled towards her on his hands and feet.
The Queenslander has skyrocketed to stardom since walking away from Channel Ten’s soap, winning four breakthrough-esque awards since 2014 (including a bloody BAFTA). Needless to say, we’re v-excited for her to absolutely criminalise with her rendition of Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad this year.
RONNY CHIENG
This Melbourne-bred comedian is currently chillin’ like a damn villain in NYC, because he’s recently killed the motherfkn comedy game, son.
You may have seen him at the Sydney Comedy Festival or Melbourne Comedy Festival, but now get used to seeing him as the Australian correspondent for none other than The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. SLAY, bae.
CAITLIN STASEY
You might remember this pixie-faced angel from Neighbours and The Sleepover Club, but Stasey’s gone on to international fame since moving OS and launching her feminist website, Herself.com. The breathtakingly-stunning website gives women an online space to express their identities and experiences, and it went absolutely bloody viral upon launch.
She’s also the star of one of ABC’s best comedies, Josh Thomas’ dope AF series, Please Like Me.
RUBY ROSE
Photo: Jeff Bottari / Getty.
After slaying Aussies for years as an MTV VJ, model and LGBTQI advocate, Ruby Rose had a truly ~stella~ (lol) 2015 when she won hearts internationally with her role on Orange Is The New Black. Playing Stella Carlin, new inmate on the block and love interest to Taylor Schilling‘s Piper Chapman, the general consensus to Rose’s arrival was “wow”, “OMG who is that?”, “I’m in love”, and “marry me”.
Only time will tell if Rose will return for season four of the Netflix hit, but we’re sure that whatever’s in store for Rose in 2016, this will be her biggest and best year yet.
So, you feeling ~inspired~? Like you want to become the next Aussie to kick mad goals overseas? Well, let us help send you on your journey.
Here’s how you can enter:
First, download the App, and register your deets (assuming you haven’t already).
Next, spend $15 or more (in one transaction) at any Nando’s.
Then, snap a photo that showcases why you deserve to live it up in LA.
And then, you have options, because who doesn’t love options?
You can either upload your favourite beach photo to Instagram with the hashtag #periperksLA, OR, email it through to periperksLA@nandos.com.au stating why you deserve to Live it up in LA.
Pretty simple, right? Grab the full deets and T&Cs HERE, and prepare to wipe this off your bucket list.
Photo: Adam Jeffery / Getty.
