This TV Star Was Once a Stunning Beauty Who Captivated Magazine Covers
It was by no means a guarantee that Rachel Ward would land the defining role of her career as Meggie Cleary in the iconic miniseries The Thorn Birds.
The British model and actress has enjoyed an extensive and diverse career that spans many decades. Currently, she is settled in Australia with her husband, the man she fell for while working on set.
So, what truly occurred behind the scenes of The Thorn Birds? And why did this mini-series achieve such monumental success?
This is Rachel Ward today, at 68 years old.
If you were to argue over which television program stands as the greatest of all time, you would likely receive a completely different response from everyone you asked. For starters, there is a vast array of genres, and naturally, people have varying preferences.
Typically, the most beloved television shows are those that remained on the air for many years, spanning multiple seasons and featuring a cast of robust, independent characters.
Bonanza, Little House on the Prairie, Friends, The Sopranos, or Twin Peaks. The debate over which of these holds the top spot will probably never be settled, and frankly, that ongoing discussion is one of the most wonderful aspects of television.
The Thorn Birds There will always be one particular series that resonates more deeply in our hearts than the rest.
While there are many long-running, established shows, there are also several examples of miniseries that were never intended to have a long lifespan but still managed to achieve cult classic status.
The Thorn Birds, featuring Richard Chamberlain, Rachel Ward, and Bryan Brown, was definitely one of those shows.
It premiered in March of 1983, drawing in over 30 million viewers across the US for the ten-hour miniseries, which was adapted from Colleen McCullough’s 1977 Australian novel, The Thorn Birds.
The mini-series generated immense fascination and received glowing praise from both viewers and critics alike. It swept numerous awards, recognized both for its compelling narrative and the outstanding performances of its cast.
Rachel Ward Spanning ten hours and broadcast over five consecutive nights, The Thorn Birds remains hailed as a timeless classic that will endure for generations to come.
Rachel Ward played the role of Meggie Cleary in The Thorn Birds, but her casting came as quite a surprise at the time. It was revealed that the producers struggled significantly to locate the ideal person for the part, but ultimately, Ward proved to be the perfect selection.
Not only did Ward achieve her massive career breakthrough by starring in this television mini-series, but she also discovered the love of her life during production.
This is the tale of Ward—and how she journeyed across the globe to sustain her passion for film and television.
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Rachel Ward – early life Born on September 12, 1957, in Cornwell, Oxfordshire, England, Ward was educated at the Hatherop Castle School in Hatherop before moving on to the Byam Shaw School of Art in London. Yet, at merely 16 years old, she departed from her schooling to chase a career in the fashion industry.
Ward transitioned into a successful fashion and photographic model, gracing the covers of prominent magazines such as Vogue, Cosmopolitan, and Harper’s & Queen. She gradually transitioned into the acting world after landing roles in various television commercials.
Many years later, in 1995, she would go on to achieve her Graduate Diploma of Communications and a Graduate Certificate in Writing from the University of Technology in Sydney, Australia.
In 1979, Rachel Ward made her acting debut in the television movie Christmas Lilies of the Field. In the subsequent years, she took on several minor parts, but by 1983, she would become a household name across the United States.
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Casting ‘The Thorn Birds’ Stan Margulies served as one of the producers for The Thorn Birds. However, finding the perfect actors for the production proved to be quite a challenge.
In 1982, he elaborated on this difficult process.
Nevertheless, the moment they laid eyes on Rachel Ward, they knew with certainty that she was the one meant to play Meggie Cleary.
“She has to go from 18 to her early 50s. From a rather naïve, overly romantic young girl to a bitter woman in her 30s, to a woman who finally understands where she took the wrong turn when she reaches her 50s. There’s an enormous range of emotions and colors,” he stated.
“They first started to age me, it was kind of scary,” Ward remembered. “I had these endless double chins. I sort of had a body suit underneath the clothes, I remember liking it when I grew older, I liked the outfits, there was slightly more masculine than they were in the beginning.”
More than 200 women were evaluated for the character of Meggie Cleary, and a grand total of 40 actresses formally auditioned.
During an interview with the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, Ward recounted her audition experience.
“My audition was quite light and I had a sense of humor” she recalled. “I remember I was taking it seriously but I wasn’t acting with a capital A. It is so subjective, performances pieces, and I was probably spot on the first time. I got like 10/10 for looks and 4/10 for acting.”
Golden Globe nominated The production team arranged for Ward to train with an acting coach, and it proved to be a highly successful collaboration. Acting opposite Richard Chamberlain as Father Ralph, Ward emerged as a cherished actress, earning accolades from both audiences and reviewers.
In 1982, she earned a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television.
Chamberlain was awarded the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television. The production itself took home four Golden Globes, taking the prize for Best Miniseries, along with six Emmy awards.
“It was the absolute top of the heat of a soap opera,” Chamberlain commented. “I am often surprised when I think about how it remains so successful, because there was one tragedy after another, after another, after another. Nobody came out on top of that show. It was so sad but had such wonderful characters”
Rachel Ward: “Felt terribly” Ward did not hone her acting abilities in a formal school setting; instead, she learned on the job as her career progressed. While the series was airing, she considered herself to be the weakest performer in the cast. She battled feelings of inadequacy for years after reading some harsh critiques (with The New York Times claiming she was “miscast”).
“I felt terribly like I’d disappointed,” she admitted to Closer. “I felt that despite me it was a success.”
Yet, years down the line, her adult daughter viewed The Thorn Birds and told her, “‘Mom, you were fabulous,’” Ward remembered. “That was, for me, the most important response that I could’ve ever had.”
”It was soap opera. I think of it differently now,” Ward explained. “Acting styles have changed and mine was always quite natural. And I think they tried to make me something that I wasn’t naturally. So that’s the excuse that I’ve made for myself.”
Her role in the 1983 miniseries The Thorn Birds was undeniably a massive professional milestone for Ward. Yet, the filming of the series held far greater personal significance for her, as it was there she encountered the love of her life.
Rachel Ward and Bryan Brown While filming The Thorn Birds, the intense romance between Rachel Ward’s Meggie and Chamberlain’s Father Ralph captivated audiences and kept them tuning in.
Chamberlain recalled the challenges of filming certain intimate moments.
“There’s a microphone hidden in the armpit… and you’re trying not to smear her lipstick,” he revealed to Closer.
While Ward and Chamberlain shared a passionate on-screen romance, the true love story was unfolding behind the scenes.
Bryan Brown portrayed Meggie’s husband, Luke O’Neill, and the two actors fell deeply in love during production.
“What happened on screen was happening off it – that’s why our love scenes were so believable,” Ward confessed to the UK’s Daily Express.
“Everyone on set realized they were falling for each other. I’ve never seen two people more in love,” Chamberlain observed, noting that Brown even stepped in to help Ward soothe her pre-filming anxieties. “She seemed to get happier and happier and her work got better and better.”
Married months later Ward and Brown clearly shared a palpable “sexual chemistry” while filming. She was deeply attracted to him, but when questioned about who initiated their romance, she playfully tossed her beloved husband under the bus.
‘He as slow as a wet week. Really took forever. I think I probably did,’ she teased.
Brown, conversely, maintained that he was simply playing the role of a “cunning Aussie bloke” by not making a move immediately.
“And before they know it, they’re hooked!” the iconic actor joked.
Rachel Ward and Brown tied the knot mere months after production on The Thorn Birds concluded.
The pair ultimately welcomed three children: Rose, Matilda, and Joseph.
So, what path did Ward take after The Thorn Birds?
She and Brown relocated to Australia, where Ward took on roles in numerous movies and television shows.
Rachel Ward – this is her today In 2001, she received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television for her work in the movie On the Beach.
Her other notable projects include The Big House, Martha’s New Coat, and the television programs Rake, Devil’s Playground, and The Straits.
Ward also expanded her talents into the realms of directing and producing.
Beyond her roles as an actress, wife, mother, and grandmother, Ward has consistently dedicated herself to giving back to the community.
As a result, in 2005, she was honored with the A.M (Member of the Order of Australia) for “raising awareness of social justice through lobbying, mentoring and advocacy for the rights of disadvantaged and at-risk young people.”
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In May 2019, Ward and Brown experienced the joy of becoming grandparents for the first time when their daughter Matilda Brown gave birth to a son, Zan.
Work with daughter Matilda Both of Matilda’s parents were by her side during the delivery, a moment she found incredibly meaningful.
“When I was pushing Zan out at the end, dad was stroking my head and mum was cheering me on, crying, saying, ‘Come on, Till! He’s so close,’” Matilda shared. “It was pretty special that both my parents got to be with me through such a monumental time in my life.”
Just a few days ago, Ward had the opportunity to meet her brand-new granddaughter, a joyful occasion she documented on her Instagram account.
On a separate note, it’s striking how much Matilda looks exactly like her mother!
Both Ward and her daughter Matilda pursued careers in the acting field.
However, when Matilda initially expressed her desire to become an actress, her mother was less than thrilled.
Spitting image of her mother “Mum definitely said ‘don’t be an actress,’” Matilda recounted. “She encouraged me to go to film school and get behind the camera, which I did and I’m very glad I did.”
In 2016, the mother-daughter duo collaborated on the film The Death and Life of Otto Bloom. Rachel and Matilda portrayed the exact same character during different phases of her life.
“We look alike so obviously there’s a great bonus in that we share physical similarities and mannerisms,” Rachel Ward explained. “Plus, as we know, women over the age of 40 are basically invisible in the media and in film … It’s a treat when something comes along where it’s ok to be in your 50s.”
Rachel Ward delivered a magnificent performance as Meggie Cleary in The Thorn Birds, and it brings us great joy to see that her passion remains as vibrant as ever today.
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