Errol Flynn: The true story of Australia's Hollywood icon

Errol Flynn was the first Australian to become a Hollywood icon. His portrayal of Robin Hood in 1938 is one of the most legendary performances on the silver screen. The US Library of Congress selected The Adventures of Robin Hood for preservation in the National Film Registry. From his childhood in Tasmania and London, to his time as a young adult in New Guinea, before he found fame in America, his personal story is as mesmerising as many of the roles he played. Flynn faced trial in 1943 for statutory rape charges and, while acquitted, the trial revealed the sexual trafficking of underage girls in Hollywood on a grand scale. In her new book, Errol Flynn: The true story of Australia’s Hollywood icon , author Patricia O’Brien examines Flynn’s larger-than-life persona and reveals the story behind the well-cultivated Hollywood myths. Who was Errol Flynn behind the silver screen? How did he pave the way for other Australians in Hollywood? How should we think about his legacy? To discuss these questions, USSC was delighted to host a special book launch event featuring Dr Patricia O’Brien , an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, in discussion with United States Studies Centre Senior Lecturer in American Studies Dr Aaron Nyerges .

You can listen to Errol Flynn: The true story of Australia's Hollywood icon online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Errol Flynn: The true story of Australia's Hollywood icon is an episode from USSC Live by Susan Beale.

This episode is 56:39 long.

This episode was published on Apr 8, 2026.

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