New Zealand film and television actor Neill Sam: biography, filmography and interesting facts

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Sam Neill, a popular New Zealand film actor, widely known for the films "Jurassic Park", "Across the Horizon", "In the Mouth of Madness" and other action films. He is a three-time Golden Globe nominee. Acting officer of the British Empire. Owns the largest winery "Two Sites", located in the New Zealand province of Otago.

Passion

The actor aims to come out on top in the difficult task of creating elite wines and receive a special prize in the autumn competition, which is organized annually by the Association of New Zealand winemakers. So far, he has not been able to do this - there is too little free time left between filming. You have to entrust all the responsible work to create a wine blend and that unique bouquet that can bring victory to assistants. Although Sam Neill is surrounded by competent winemakers with sufficient experience, he still completely trusts only himself. However, the results thatare celebrated by experts at his winery, give hope for one of the first places.

Sam Neill, biography

The actor was born on September 14, 1947 in Northern Ireland, the city of Omagh. His father, Dermot Neill, was a career officer, a graduate of a prestigious military training center, and his mother, Priscilla, was a housewife. The family owned a small business that shipped liquor to New Zealand. The company was called Neill & Co.

In 1954, the family moved from Ireland to New Zealand. Sam Neill began to attend an Anglican school-type boarding school for boys - Christ's College in Christchester. Then the teenager entered the Queen Victoria University, where at the end he received the title of Bachelor of Arts, including in English literature.

After his final exams, Sam Neill decided to devote himself to cinema and become an actor. Several inconspicuous roles in New Zealand-made films brought disappointment to the young performer. Nobody knew who Neill Sam was, for most directors his name was unknown. The frustrated actor decided not to act anymore and went to work in the editing room. He believed that gluing together separate fragments of film was an occupation that did not require special talent. Of course, with this approach, the editor did not work out of him. In the future, Neill was helped by chance.

First success

He was unexpectedly invited to the lead role in the film "Sleeping Dogs" directed by Roger Donaldson. Drama thrillerbecame a test for the thirty-year-old actor. Neill Sam did a brilliant job, playing the protagonist Smith flawlessly. Now all of New Zealand, directors and producers knew about the talented performer of dramatic roles. From now on, Neill Sam did not have time to respond to invitations to star in a particular film project.

In 1979, the actor took part in the creation of an Australian film called "My Brilliant Career", where his partner was star Judy Davis, winner of numerous awards and prizes, twice nominated for an Oscar.

The film was a success, won several awards and became a classic of Australian cinema.

Then Neill Sam starred in the Hollywood thriller Omen 3: The Final Stand.

James Bond

In 1985, when the "Bond" was in full swing, his candidacy was considered for the role of James Bond in the next series of "Sparks from the Eyes". Neill Sam was supposed to replace Roger Moore. But after much deliberation, director John Glen chose to give the role to Timothy D alton.

In the early 1980s, Neill Sam rose to prominence among UK moviegoers with his roles in Ivanhoe and Raleigh the King of Spies. For the latter role, he received a Golden Globe nomination.

After ten years, Neill appeared in several films in Hollywood, among which were:

• "The Hunt for Red October" (1990).
• "Sirens"(1994).
• "Dead Calm" (1988).
• "Piano" (1994).
• "Jurassic Park" (1993).
• "Plate" (2000).
• "Across the Horizon" (1998).
• "Jurassic Park 3" (2001).

Popularity

Sam Neill became more and more famous as an actor and he could sometimes refuse to participate in a particular film project. So the actor turned down an offer to star as the half-elf Elrond in Jackson Peter's The Lord of the Rings movie. Just at that time, Neill was filming the penultimate episode of "Jurassic Park" and was limited in time.

In 2011, he accepted an invitation to star in JJ Abrams' mystical film Alcatraz.

Due to his charismatic appearance, Sam Neill mostly played positive characters. However, in the film "Warriors of Light", the actor successfully created the image of a villain, proving his ability to transform into anti-heroes.

Private life

Nill's family life was not very successful. He married New Zealand actress Lisa Harrow, but the marriage only lasted a few months. After Liz gave birth to a son, the couple divorced.

The next attempt to start a family was the actor's marriage to make-up artist Noriko Watanabe. The couple had a daughter, whom they named Elena.

Sam Neill filmography

For my careerthe actor starred in more than a hundred films of various genres. Below is a rough list of his films.

• "Landslide" (1975), the role of Eric.
• "Sleeping Dogs" (1977), the role of Smith.
• "Journalist" (1979), Rex.
• "Out of Reach" (1979), Mike.
• "Lucinda Braford" (1980), the role of Tony Duff.
• "Possessed by a demon" (1981), the role of Mark.
• "Far land" (1981), Marian.
• "Alien blood" (1984), the role of Bergman.
• "Armed robbery" (1985), the role of Captain Starlight.
• "Restless Heart" (1985), Lazar.
• "Strong medicine" (1986), the role of Vince Lord.
• "The Good Wife" (1987), Neville Gifford.
• "The Power of Faith" (1988), the role of Oscar.
• "Dead Calm" (1988), John Ingram.
• "Fever" (1991), the role of Elliott.
• "Confessions of an Invisible Man" (1992), Jenkins David.
• "Rainbow Warrior" (1993), the role of Alan Galbraith.
• "Hostage" (1993), John Ranny.
• "The Theater of Memories" (1993), the role of David Eberlin.
• "Sirens" (1994), Norman Lindsay.
• "Country Life" (1994), the role of Dr. Max Eskey.
• "The Jungle Book" (1993), the role of Colonel Geoffrey Brydon.
• "Royal Grace" (1994), King Charles II.
• "Across the Horizon" (1997), Dr. William Weir.
• "The Casterhorses" (1998), Robert McLean.
• "Magic Pudding" (2001), Sam Sounoff.

Currently, Sam Neill is preparing to shoot two new films at once in Hollywood at MGM and Columbia Pictures. The seventy-year-old actor is full of strength and creative energy, which allows him to shoot for several hours without a break. Sam Neill, whose filmography is already quite extensive, does not want to stop there and continues to spend days and nights on the set.

As a rule, Hollywood film companies do not take into account time and shoot their films without any regulations, often the process continues day and night. The director and actors usually try to meet commercial obligations and finish filming as soon as possible. But this is never done at the expense of quality. The artistic value of a painting must be inviolable. Sam Neill is one of those who strictly observe this rule.