Bryan Brown & Sam Neill open up about acting, friendship and growing old | 7NEWS Spotlight

This story originally aired on July 21, 2019.
Bryan Brown and Sam Neill's persevering friendship - how the trans-Tasman buddies' close ties helped Bryan get through one of his toughest personal moments. The stars open up to Steve Pennells.
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[@werebilbyj4449]

Three screen legends in the one sitting, absolutely wonderful. Sam Neill and Bryan Brown are absolute classic actors. Lovely interview.

[@candycrushlover2910]

I just love this - brotherhood at its best. What a beautiful friendship.

[@kerry9025]

*”The Thornbirds” is one of the best sagas in* *the history of film. I have it on DVD & watch it* *often. It never gets old.* 💖🕊💖

[@ioannisalex5089]

Kerry Damn right !! I was madly in love with Rachel and it's totally true that she was one of the prettiest women of her time !!

[@malinhessedahl]

Love this tv-serie to💗 Love both The thornbirds and second the thornbrids the missing years from 1996

[@lnl3237]

Really was extraordinarily entertaining and engrossing with a perfect cast. The forbidden love story was of course, the hook, but I also found it tremendously compelling as a story of a man who never fully committed to either "love of his life." This ambivalence led to so much heartbreak for Meggie and himself. In the end, his intellect and esteemed stature in the Church hierarchy proved to be less "Christ-like" than Meggie's unconditional love and capacity to forgive. To his credit, he ultimately realized his folly.

[@sherrihimes7357]

Me too ❤

[@corrinthe]

Except when they called roos KANGAS 😂😂😂😂

[@leannekatmartin9962]

A wonderful friendship indeed. I've loved Sam since Omen III, Bryan since The Thorn Birds and Rachel Ward since Thorn Birds too. She was/is stunningly beautiful.

[@samneill3370]

You really have followed for many years. Thanks for the love 💕

[@susieusmaximus5330]

I love Bryan Brown for talking about his experience with anxiety. He's doing a tremendous service to other men by being willing to be open about it. People don't realize that that kind of mental illness is actually a physical, neurological phenomenon that can't be overcome merely by "shaking it off" -- you need help, and there's no shame in getting it and talking about it, so that others can do the same.

[@ccsworldaustralia4332]

2 wonderful actors, 2 wonderful friends, what Brown calls rugged, unsophisticated, i call it natural. Cheers

[@Jesusexplains]

Simply BEAUTIFUL! Goin’ now to see the movie. Often pick Bryan up in my taxi in years gone by, and he and Rachel just warm, beautiful fair dinkum people.

[@Jesusexplains]

Great cast! I really enjoyed the movie - especially the part with the taxi driver (ha!), as I had been a taxi-driver in Sydney for 16 years.

[@Jippa_33]

This was a great segment. I could watch these two joke around forever. Bryan’s wife seems really lovely as well. They make for a kind, caring & hilarious group.

[@denisehardy7719]

I have loved this man since the early '80's!!! I lived in a very ruleral area in Puerto Rico!! We had 2, 1/2 hrs of English distractions each day & occasionally, 14:07 we saw 'Riley. Ace Of Spies' I WAS SO IN LOVE WITH THIS MAN for his character😢 THANK YOU 4 SAM NIELL!@! Gone but never, ever forgotten!!!

[@debblackmore7460]

Anxiety is crap I suffer with it after dying 26 minutes spent weeks months in coma rehab hospital learning talk walk again been a recovery massive discovery never ever give up on yourself many will never yourselves stay strong stay safe sending love from headway Nottingham UK takecare xxx

[@michaellindahl7969]

OMG. This makes me smile. So wonderful to see it and hear it. Friendships = very important!

[@anndarley9229]

I love them both and the true ANZAC spirit that they both exude. Pity that both countries are losing that close bond, Bryan and Sam will never lose it, just beautiful.

[@spdutahraptor777]

"Can I get a selfie??? you're the Bond we never...really liked... but... can I get a selfie anyways??" so fucking true

[@mariecourtney7672]

a true friend is a precious gem .. continue to cherish it you both are very fortunate

[@beachrose88]

love these two men. I feel they are. both good men..and i love the acting work they have both done.

[@marcpadilla1094]

Rachel matured beautifully. Some of the happiest people keep things simple.

[@suzannestarkings8889]

I would LOVE to see the two of you in an "Odd Couple" remake or version! It could be so good and hilarious After which, I'm sure, you both could cruise into a Walter Matthau-Jack Lemon buddy franchise and sail into a beautiful sunset

[@theknave4415]

If all of your 'spotlights' are this good? It's a crying shame you do not have more followers and views. This is a wonderful show.

[@selah71]

Love all these actors! Cocktail is an old movie but is very good and highly recommend.

[@annl8500]

An invisible thread connects them together with Love Forever! Thank you all for sharing your life with us!

[@navajoauckland6003]

Brown has been one of my Aussie crushes since the 80's

[@pricla777]

3:43 One of my favorite scenes of all time!

[@annademo]

Friendship is a beautiful thing and of course we love our best friends. How could we not?

[@roseogrady8785]

Great Characters...Great Actors.

[@aussiegamerdude6403]

Bryan browns a top bloke

[@theworkofsirchristopherlee6861]

Total bromance. Lovely ❤

[@davidsauls9542]

I always wished Sam Neall had done some James Bond films. Not English, but I think he would have been a great Bond.

[@lynisathome222]

I have not watched an Australian made film that wasn't wonderful. Perfect. Something about the light, about the quirky characters, the clever and sometime challenging scripts - and that Australian humour - perfect ❤❤❤ love from 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@gayeblinman5055]

Rusted On Mates & Bonza Blokes - Lucky to share the bond of friendship 🍀🍀 Racheal has a natural beauty 🌻 and she does create worlds 🌍

[@loudloveen]

Sam Neill has become more handsome through the years. Bryan Brown has maintained his good looks and still runs like a young man. I admire him for talking about having suffered with anxiety.

[@fld9266]

Two great actors

[@garrieleepeck8753]

So happy more n more people talking about mental health .just needs to be much more help I've waited 35 years for real help .

[@rampageclover9788]

Two Aussie legends

[@rugbyteammanager824]

One Aussie one Kiwi legends

[@brendabernstein286]

Beautiful interview beautiful friends

[@clutzwinstead279]

I love these two. Have loved Sam for years. Brian too, just see Sam more often. Two lookers for my money. ♡

[@samneill3370]

Thanks for the love Clutz 💕

[@evaper665]

He would be an awesome Bond ❤

[@noreengoodman7619]

two lovely blokes

[@debblackmore7460]

You all are like a fine wine aged well stay strong stay safe sending love from headway Nottingham UK takecare xxx

[@keithss67]

Great actors

[@malinhessedahl]

All three them are good amzing actor and actress💗💖♥️

[@debblackmore7460]

Legends xxx

[@RealRoknRollr3108]

So what happened to second season of Old School? Still waiting...

[@ManlyGaga]

Alan Grant in Jurassic world 3??

[@sandramorey2529]

My 2 very favorite actors in the world. Sam as long ago as My Brilliant Career & Riley Ace of spies. Bryan as long ago as A Town Called Alice (PBS series). While he ws making Jurassic Park, Sam was given a ukulele in Hawaii. Had a few lessons & while doing some work on the film on Treasure Island here in the SF Bay Area, he attended our ukulele class as Sam from Australia. We tried not to mob him, tho some of us had a very hard time with that. He came to our ukulele festival, but remained in the background. I wanted to tell him so much how I admired his work from those two early films, but I didn't so I will do so here. He has a bunch of very silly you tube videos featuring him singing and playing a ukulele. He has improved.

[@samneill3370]

You really are very detailed Sandra. Thanks for being a lovely fan💕

[@AidaJof]

Two great men 🥰

[@CelesteDavison48]

EXCELLENT!

[@samneill3370]

Thank you

[@HamilcarBarca-jm3ey]

Bryan Brown in Breaker Morant. He was good in A Town like Alice, too.

[@heldig5617]

A kiwi and an OZ at their most chummy togetherness.

[@brianmarshall4753]

Sam Neil and Bryan brown are best friends

[@mdk9000]

The luck gone,the brain is shot...but the liquor we still got. Douglas Couglin. RIP

[@nickbarton3191]

Good to have mates.

[@AidaJof]

Both good blokes🥰🥰

[@sandratessem9980]

Great in the Thorn Birds

[@malinhessedahl]

I love thornbirds both tv-serie of thornbrids

[@luciavitale5903]

Grazie

[@beverleyreynolds2797]

I fell in love with Bryan Brown in a Town like Alice. I thought he was so hot in fact he still is. Didn't know or remember rather that married Rachel Ward lucky girl. Xxxx

[@debbiedean3165]

Beautiful ❤️

[@peterfox2538]

Sam niels a great actor best wishes from the UK.

[@eugenaionesca]

I ❤ them both😊

[@brunovilma9587]

Meggie e Luke forever ❤🌹🥂🍾 con la benedizione di padre Ralph...😊😍

[@realRainz]

Not to mention Brown in FX at all? Come on Spotlight News or whatever

[@michaelmullin3744]

I love Australians I just never met one

[@jean-lucpicard5510]

Bryan looks like a copyright infringing Michael Cane.

[@frangipaniinteriors8894]

Heartwarming stuff

[@frankclarke6651]

Rusted iron yes, entwined like a no.8 wire.

[@standardyeepz]

“We clung on like barnacles on a boat, even if the ship sinks you know you can’t let go.” -ugly casanova

[@timeandspace3365]

I saw him first lol at his worst do yall here me lol

[@historypandas7]

10:37 blood infection? no one asks what blood infection? how? how they get him out of it? I would have asked right away nah, Jurassic Jurassic... from Jurassic I remember only the dinosaurs, not the actors - yes, I went trough comments to find if anyone anything about Bryan Brown... not my bloody business, curious though, ah those celebrities always get the best health care, go through easily when others "can't make it" in the eyes of doctors who do the selection on daily basis

[@Davide5340]

please teach how to make good interviews to "60 minutes"

[@mindfulclarity169]

All great actors but sadly the script for this palm beach was so self-indulgent and a glorification of wealth and it seemed the reality of them all staying together was their wealth. The fact that Richard Grant had to beg his wife that he was stupid for what he said was absurd all he said was that his wife had aged big deal obviously many women can't cope with losing their looks so she kicks him out of bed. Yep that's a typical Aussie feminist. Its good to have some realism in films but Hitchcock put it best that movies should have all the boring bits of life taken out and just show that but sadly palm beach keeps all those in. Fortunately, my friend and I later saw Danger close which had a greater true story than just dysfunctional families cemented by wealth and then all live happily ever after. No sincerity.

[@camatkins]

jeez bryan brown is always playing himself - ughhh

[@ArnaTabitha-u4z]

Brian Brown yeah gorillas in the mist and Diane fossey's always remembered the aliens 🍻💯🌏🍷😂❤️‍🔥💌🚬🍻💯💓🔥☠️🌖🌗🌘🌕🌔🌓🌒🌑👻💫😈🔥💓

[@eagle7757]

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 KJV, Jesus Christ is the only way.........

[@bread_n_butter8614]

Dodged a bullet? He was amazing playing a spy in Reilly Ace of Spies