It wasn’t guaranteed that Rachel Ward would land the role of a lifetime when she was cast as Meggie Cleary in the iconic miniseries The Thorn Birds.
The British actress and former model has enjoyed a long, varied career spanning decades. Today, she lives in Australia with the man she fell in love with on set.
So what really happened behind the scenes of The Thorn Birds — and why did the miniseries become such a phenomenon?
This is Rachel Ward today, at 68.
If you asked people to name the greatest TV series ever made, you’d likely get a different answer from each one. With so many genres and personal tastes, it’s impossible to crown a single winner.
Still, the most beloved shows tend to be long‑running series with memorable characters — Bonanza, Little House on the Prairie, Friends, The Sopranos, Twin Peaks. The debate will never be settled, and that’s part of the magic of television.
But some shorter projects leave just as deep a mark. Among them is The Thorn Birds, starring Richard Chamberlain, Rachel Ward, and Bryan Brown.
Premiering in March 1983, the ten‑hour adaptation of Colleen McCullough’s 1977 novel drew more than 30 million U.S. viewers. The miniseries became a cultural event, earning critical praise and multiple awards for both its storytelling and performances.
Even today, spread across five nights and ten hours, The Thorn Birds remains a classic.
Ward’s casting as Meggie Cleary surprised many at the time. Producers struggled to find the right actress, but ultimately decided she was the perfect fit. Not only did the role launch her career — it also led her to the love of her life.
Early Life
Born September 12, 1957, in Oxfordshire, England, Ward attended Hatherop Castle School and later the Byam Shaw School of Art. At 16, she left school to pursue modeling, appearing on the covers of Vogue, Cosmopolitan, and Harper’s & Queen. Commercial work eventually opened the door to acting.
Years later, in 1995, she earned a Graduate Diploma of Communications and a Graduate Certificate in Writing from the University of Technology in Sydney.
Her first TV movie was Christmas Lilies of the Field in 1979. Several smaller roles followed — until 1983 changed everything.
Casting The Thorn Birds
Producer Stan Marguiles explained that casting Meggie was extremely difficult. But once they saw Ward, they knew she could portray Meggie from age 18 into her 50s — a huge emotional range.
Ward remembered the aging process as “kind of scary,” recalling the “endless double chins” and bodysuit used to transform her.
More than 200 women were considered, and 40 auditioned. Ward later said her audition was light and natural: “I got like 10/10 for looks and 4/10 for acting.”
Producers sent her to an acting coach, and the pairing worked. Starring opposite Richard Chamberlain, she quickly became a viewer favorite.
Ward earned a Golden Globe nomination in 1982. Chamberlain won his category, and the show collected four Golden Globes and six Emmys.
Struggles and Self‑Doubt
Despite the success, Ward battled insecurity. Negative reviews — including one calling her “miscast” — left her feeling she had let people down.
Years later, her daughter watched the series and told her, “Mom, you were fabulous,” a moment Ward described as deeply meaningful.
Meeting Bryan Brown
While Meggie and Father Ralph shared intense chemistry on screen, the real love story happened off camera. Ward fell for Bryan Brown, who played Luke O’Neill.
Their connection was obvious to everyone on set. Chamberlain recalled, “I’ve never seen two people more in love.”
Ward joked that Brown was “as slow as a wet week” in making the first move, while Brown claimed he was simply being a “cunning Aussie bloke.”
They married just months after filming wrapped and went on to have three children: Rose, Matilda, and Joseph.
Life After The Thorn Birds
Ward and Brown moved to Australia, where she continued acting in film and television. She earned another Golden Globe nomination in 2001 for On the Beach and appeared in The Big House, Martha’s New Coat, Rake, Devil’s Playground, and The Straits. She also expanded into producing and directing.
In 2005, she was awarded the A.M. (Member of the Order of Australia) for her advocacy on behalf of disadvantaged youth.
Family and Later Work
In 2019, Ward and Brown became grandparents when daughter Matilda welcomed her son Zan. Both parents were present at the birth — a moment Matilda described as incredibly special.
Ward recently met her newborn granddaughter, sharing the moment on Instagram.
Matilda, who resembles her mother strikingly, also pursued acting. Ward initially discouraged her from entering the profession, urging her to study filmmaking instead — advice Matilda later appreciated.
In 2016, mother and daughter starred together in The Death and Life of Otto Bloom, playing the same character at different ages.
Ward noted the rarity of roles for women over 40, calling it a gift to play a character in her 50s.
Rachel Ward was unforgettable as Meggie Cleary — and it’s wonderful to see her still thriving, still passionate, and still beloved today.
