Hollywood superstar Chris Hemsworth leads a list of more than 1000 Australians to be recognised in the Queen’s Birthday honours list.

The Thor heart-throb was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his significant service to the performing arts as well as his commitment to charitable organisations.

A total of 1190 Australians were recognised in the honours, including 63 acknowledged for their efforts related to the Covid-19 pandemic. These recipients will be added to a new Covid-19 honour roll, which will become a permanent and ongoing part of the awards.

Hemsworth has had a distinguished career in film, which began with iconic television performances in Home And Away and Neighbours in the early 2000s. Since then, he has become a global star for his role in the Avengers franchise as Thor, as well as Extraction and Star Trek.

Women made up 44 per cent of this year’s honourees, the highest proportion ever.

Governor-General David Hurley said it was hoped this year’s instalment of the annual honours list would be a more accurate reflection of Australia’s diversity and urged those from a wider network to consider nominating leaders from their own community in the future.

From the long list of recipients, he said there were “examples of exceptional achievement in almost every field imaginable”.

“I am pleased that this list includes the highest ever percentage of women (44 per cent) recognised through the General Division of the Order of Australia,” General Hurley said.

“It is important that the Order of Australia represents the diversity and strength of Australia — for this to happen we need to ensure outstanding women, members of our multicultural community and First Nations people are nominated by their peers in the community.”

text by James Hall, NCA Newswire