2012 Australia Day

It’s no secret that Hollywood welcomes fresh Australian talent with open arms. Chris Hemsworth, Rachael Taylor and Teresa Palmer are just a few examples of home-grown stars who have found success in an industry that’s notoriously hard to break in to. It takes a thick skin to handle all the rejection after days full of auditions, but perseverance — or sometimes being in the right place at the right time — pays off, and luckily for these eight up-and-comers, Hollywood wants to see more of them — as do we!

It’s Isabel Lucas’ birthday on Sunday! The Aussie beauty, who got her acting career started as Tasha on Home and Away, is turning 27, and since leaving Summer Bay she’s gone on to star in some big Hollywood blockbusters like Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and Immortals. Along the way she’s also made some A-list friends, spotted sitting front row at fashion shows with the likes of Katie Holmes and Naomi Watts, while her passion for all things environmental means she’s also buddies with Jessica Biel and Adrian Grenier, a one-time boyfriend. To celebrate her big day, we’re looking at her Hollywood journey with snaps of her famous pals. Don’t forget to see her fashion and beauty transformations on Fab and Bella!

Continuing on with our tribute to all things Australian this week, we're sending out best birthday wishes to Aussie expat Isabel Lucas. First landing on our radar as day-dreamer Tash on Home & Away, the US-based actress tends to stay true to her signature boho-meets-beach-babe style, with vintage pieces, beaded headwear, printed and utra-femme dresses regularly popping up in both her red carpet and off-duty wardrobe. In saying that, the ASOS magazine covergirl can rock designer duds just as well, spotted in the likes of Louis Vuitton and Calvin Klein. Click through for a look at her style CV, and Isabel — we hope you have a happy birthday on Sunday!

Home & Away alumni Isabel Lucas is celebrating her 27th birthday on Sunday so we're rewinding over her time in the spotlight to see how her beauty look has evolved. From beachy waves to a turn as a brunette, one thing that has always remained a constant is Lucas' relaxed, boho vibe, with the actress weaving rope braids and beaded headwraps into her every day look.

Happy Australia Day! To mark a day that’s usually symbolised by BBQs, thongs, the beach and Vegemite among other things, we’re taking a slightly different approach and combining a few of our favourite things: Aussies, celebrities and love! Sure, we can’t get enough of Hollywood pairings like Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, or Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, but some of the best real-life chemistry also comes from home-grown stars. Whether dating, engaged or married, check out some of the sweetest, cutest and hottest Aussie couples.

Happy Australia Day, everyone! Before you skip (sorry, couldn't resist) off to the beach let's kick off the celebrations by paying tribute to some home-grown heroes: the best Australian haircare products out there. The five brands featured here haven't only been tried and tested by yours truly, but they've helped to style some of Australia's most stylish celebs including Rose Byrne, Abbie Lee Kershaw, Dannii Minogue and Jess Hart.

For lots of Sydneysiders, Australia Day means one thing: Big Day Out! Music festival fans in other cities have either had their fix of BDO this year (such as the Gold Coast) while Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth have the fun coming very shortly. Unfortunately not everyone can make it to the Sydney Showground to enjoy the sounds of Kanye West, Soundgarden, The Living End, Kimbra and more, which is why we’ve compiled pics from Sunday’s Gold Coast BDO. It’s almost like being there — just without the music . . .