Elsa Pataky shows husband Chris Hemsworth a new side of herself

She admits that she can be a pushover at home with her family, but Elsa Pataky isn’t one to mess with in her new show, Tidelands

The actress plays a fearsome and seductive sea nymph – known as sirens – in the highly-anticipated Netflix drama.

And Elsa Pataky admits her portrayal of villainess Adrielle left her husband Chris Hemsworth slightly shocked by just how easily she tapped into her darker side.

“He was surprised.. He was like ‘Ooo I didn’t know you were that mean’,” she tells Yahoo Lifestyle.

However, she adds that the Aussie actor was impressed by her work and the way in which she brought the character to life on screen.

“Yeah, he’s watched it and he loved it. He knew the script beforehand but he was probably surprised by the turns the character had from the page to the screen,” she reveals.

Tidelands centres ex-con Cal Mcteer (Charlotte Best) who returns to her small fishing village and begins to uncover the secrets of the town and its half-siren, half-human residents.

And as Adrielle – the beautiful and “darkly enigmatic” leader of the sirens known as Tidelanders – Elsa revelled in the chance to get stuck into such a complex character.

“When reading the story, what was interesting was seeing all the different characters and how in every episode you see something different about them and how they continue to grow and grow,” the 42-year-old explains.

“As an actor, it is really interesting to play something like that. Where you don’t know what it going to happen but it just moves you to do things that is so different in each of us.”

She continues: “Playing Adrielle was very enjoyable. I think because it was so far from my personality, it is easier to play.

“And the thing with the powers and the supernatural part of it was great because it gives you another attitude as well. So I find it very fun to play. You always try to find the good part of the character rather than just be a villain.”

Tidelands – the first Australian original series for Netflix – is out now.

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