“If someone comes up to me when I’m having coffee, it’ll generally be a question about dinosaurs”

As a seasoned cinephile with a penchant for uncovering hidden gems, I wholeheartedly endorse adding “The Twelve” to your watchlist. The series, which stars the illustrious Sam Neill as defense barrister Brett Colby, is not only engaging but also offers a captivating glimpse into the life of one of our most esteemed actors.

Add The Twelve to your watchlist.

Sam Neill hints subtly, with a touch of humor, that our conversation is interrupting his television viewing during our video call. “I’ve been marathon-watching the latest season for the past two days, only one episode remains. I’m not watching it at this moment because I’m speaking with you.”

The mentioned show is referred to as “The Twelve“, which happens to be the second season of an Australian legal drama. In this series, the character of defence barrister Brett Colby is portrayed by Neill, a Northern Irish native who was raised in New Zealand.

In the series, Neill is the sole actor reprising his role. This might be due to the fact that many people didn’t anticipate The Twelve making a comeback. Even Neill himself was taken aback by this development. However, he admits it turned out to be surprisingly successful. The series was streamed an astonishing 26 million times on ITVX in the UK alone. I was completely stunned, he said.

Without much hesitation, he gladly agreed to step back into the shoes of the senior defense attorney. “This character resonates deeply with me,” he explained. “I’m inexplicably drawn to my profession. I recognize myself in him. He finds humor in life, just like I do. However, his combative and competitive nature is not something I can identify with. Yet, the thrill of cross-examination, the back-and-forth, seems incredibly exciting to me.”

“If someone comes up to me when I’m having coffee, it’ll generally be a question about dinosaurs”

At 74 years old, Neill acknowledges that his action-packed movie days might be nearing their end, but he remains as active as ever. This year, he can be seen alongside Annette Bening in the mystery series “Apples Never Fall,” an adaptation of Liane Moriarty’s novel (known for “Big Little Lies”), and at this moment, he’s in Vancouver filming the Netflix thriller “Untamed” alongside Eric Bana. With a hint of a smile, he says, “I’m Smokey Bear himself,” clearly fond of his iconic hat.

Regarding his roles on the big screen, he verifies that one Jurassic Park franchise journey is complete. Having portrayed Dr Alan Grant in three Jurassic Park films, including a return in the billion-dollar earner Dominion in 2022, he has chosen to part ways with dinosaurs and will not be featured in the upcoming film tentatively titled Jurassic World 4.

He implies that the old cast members, including himself, have finished their roles for this film. It seems the cast is now made up of fresh, young actors such as Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey from “Bridgerton”. Despite wrapping up, it was an honor to be a part of it all. In Vancouver, people often approach him while he’s having coffee, usually asking dinosaur-related questions.

I think all of us old hands are done with Jurassic Park

He’s just as open to another film being made, which is the case with Peaky Blinders – a production he won’t be part of due to his character, Chester Campbell (the corrupt military officer), having been written out at the conclusion of the second season. Despite this, it was unavoidable.

“Neill expressed his fascination, regret at missing more of it, and joy at having been present from the start,” he said, further mentioning that he was “extremely happy” to reunite with Cillian Murphy the day following this year’s Oscars, where Murphy won best actor for Oppenheimer. “Coincidentally, I was in LA, and it was a delight to reconnect under such ideal circumstances. He seemed unusually affected by one-too-many drinks!” Neill noted, stating that this wasn’t the Cillian he knew. Later, Murphy spent time at Neill’s farm in New Zealand while his son, Aran, filmed a movie (Klara and the Sun) there – “I believe it offered him a refreshing change after some chaotic weeks.”

Regarding our own Irish connections, Neill and I were discussing matters last week, coinciding with the start of the inquiry into the 1998 Omagh bombing. When I asked him about his feelings towards the town where he was born, he initially seemed surprised by the news.

“It’s astonishing to me that I hadn’t known this earlier. Over all these years, I find myself amazed it took so long… After visiting Omagh, I felt like I had found a sense of reconciliation with the place. One day, at a café, the woman who served my tea whispered softly with a charming Northern Irish accent: ‘We’re incredibly proud of you here.'”

1. “What she said was so kind, it’s still heartwarming to think about. The fact that her kindness was noted and appreciated means a lot to me. A few years back when I was unwell, I wrote a memoir and shared my story in it.” (In this version, the sentences are restructured for clarity and readability, while maintaining the original meaning.)

As a devoted cinephile, I can’t help but notice that Neill’s casual mention of being unwell doesn’t fully disclose his situation. Upon closer inspection, it turns out that he’s battling stage-three blood cancer, which means regular chemotherapy is now an integral part of his life. Yet, remarkably, Neill remains optimistic about this challenging journey. He shared last March that his treatments are now monthly, and he’s mostly unavailable from Friday to Tuesday due to the effects. In his own words, “It’s just once a month now. I go in on a Friday and I’m no good to anyone until about Tuesday.”

Over the past few days, I’ve been through quite a rollercoaster ride, but it’s all behind me now. Starting tomorrow, I plan to bounce back with renewed vigor – hitting the gym, working hard at my job, and embracing life with open arms. I feel more invigorated, both physically and mentally, than ever before in my life. The challenges I faced have only served to make me stronger and more determined to seize every opportunity that comes my way.

2024-08-08 20:34

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