Robert Irwin Hints at Hollywood Ambitions While Staying True to Conservation Roots
Robert Irwin, the 22-year-old conservationist and television personality, has sparked speculation that he could be the next Chris Hemsworth, hinting that he may soon be appearing on cinema screens near you. In a revealing interview with the Daily Telegraph this week, Irwin expressed keen interest in taking on roles in Hollywood films, following his successful voice acting debut in the animated feature Zootopia 2 last year.
Hollywood Dreams and Conservation Realities
In the scripted space, movies and that sort of thing would be really cool, Irwin told the publication, opening the door to a potential acting career. However, he was quick to emphasise that his first love will always be conservation, stating, I feel like wherever I am, whatever I'm doing, that's what I'm representing. He added, I'd also love to do more within the animal documentary and kind of get back to my roots with a conservation-based show.
Irwin described these potential ventures as side quests in his career, balancing his global media commitments with his deep-seated passion for wildlife preservation. There's so many things that rattle around through my brain and there's a lot of things that hopefully in this coming year I can start to take on, he explained, noting that the door is open… very open for new opportunities.
From Voice Roles to Reality TV Success
Irwin's foray into entertainment is not entirely new. He voiced the character Robert Furwin, an animated koala, in Zootopia 2, and has previously landed small voice acting roles in popular TV series such as Bluey and Dino Dan: Trek's Adventures. He also had an uncredited role in Free Willy: Escape from Pirate's Cove, which starred his sister, Bindi Irwin.
More recently, Irwin spent three months living in Los Angeles, where he starred on the US version of Dancing With The Stars, ultimately taking home the Mirrorball trophy after winning the competition in November. Despite this success, he is unlikely to relocate to Tinseltown permanently, as he revealed that living in a big city does not suit him.
Balancing Fame with Family Legacy
Being in LA for the last three months has been wonderful, but I am not a city kid, Irwin admitted to the West Australian. I live out in the bush and have grown up there, so it's good to be back where there's a bit of greenery. He expressed excitement about returning to the South African jungle to film the new season of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! Australia, highlighting his preference for natural environments over urban settings.
Irwin continues to work at Australia Zoo, his family's Queensland conservation park, where he carries on the legacy of his late father, Steve Irwin. However, as global stardom beckons, juggling his wildlife work with media commitments has become an increasing challenge. I'm trying to navigate that, he acknowledged, underscoring the delicate balance between his conservation mission and burgeoning entertainment career.
With his eyes set on Hollywood and his heart rooted in conservation, Robert Irwin is navigating a unique path that could see him become a major star while honouring the environmental advocacy that defines his family's heritage.
