From kids shows to hanging with the Hemsworths: How Lauren Phillips went from hosting weekend cartoons to partying with A-list star Chris, his wife Elsa Pataky and their close circle

Lauren Phillips attended the exclusive Gold Dinner in Sydney alongside Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky on Thursday.

The Weekend Today weather presenter, 34, looked glamorous in a black gown that hugged her figure as she posed at the event with the A-list couple, Liam Hemsworth and his girlfriend Gabriella Brooks, and Matt Damon's wife Lucciana Barroso.

And while she seamlessly fitted into that famous social circle for the group photo at the charity event - it's quite a long way from her early days as the host of a children's show.

In 2011, she was cast as the co-host of Channel Nine's now defunct program, Kids' WB Australia, alongside former Block star Andy Sunderland. 

But the show was given the axe in November 2019 because Channel Nine's long-running deal with Warner Bros had expired.

Lauren made headlines earlier in December 2018, when she announced her split from Lachlan Spark after just one year of marriage.

At the time, her representative confirmed the marriage was over in a brief statement to The Daily Telegraph newspaper. 

Lauren is now believed to be dating multi-millionaire jet tycoon Paul O'Brien, who happens to be the ex-boyfriend of Sunrise host Sam Armytage.

Paul runs high-end aviation business AVMIN, which boasts celebrity clients including Matt Damon and Chris Hemsworth. 

She has been enjoying getting to know Paul's many celebrity friends, including Hollywood superstar Hemsworth and his wife.

Back in September, Lauren surprised Weekend Today hosts Richard Wilkins and Rebecca Maddern with a special appearance by Hemsworth in the New South Wales town of Scone.

The Thor star read her weather report live on air, and afterwards she joked the A-list star gave her a run for her money and may take her job. 

In November, Lauren was among the small group of several women who got a tattoo with Elsa during Chris' mother Leonie's 60th birthday in Byron Bay.

Elsa was tagged in a post by Lauren, which showed her, Elsa and friends showing off the new inkings on their wrists and ankles - including a shell and a paper plane.

The Channel Nine presenter had in fact shared the original post from their mutual friend, Byron Bay-based Elke Ricks.

Since then Lauren has become part of the Hemsworth orbit and shared a number of photos that feature the Hollywood couple, their famous friends and family members on her social media.

For her 34th birthday in January, Lauren shared a photo of her Byron Bay bash.

'Totally spoilt by these legends yesterday,' she captioned a large group photo that included Chris, Elsa, Liam and his girlfriend Gabriella, Luke and his wife Samantha.

Last month, she shared photos from a lavish white party with the famous family which 'was a send-off for American TV personality Michele Merkin', according to Sydney Morning Herald.

Just weeks later, Lauren shared photos from a recent holiday to the The Kimberley in Western Australia with Gabriella Brooks and Hemsworths' parents Craig and Leonie.