Meggie Cleary from ‘The Thorn Birds’ Is Unrecognizable at 65 — Find Out Why
Rachel Ward wasn’t sure she would get the role of her life when she played Meggie Cleary in the classic mini-series *The Thorn Birds*.
The British actress and model has enjoyed a long and varied career that has lasted for decades. Now, she lives in Australia with her husband, whom she fell in love with while working on the show.
So, what really happened during *The Thorn Birds*? And why did this mini-series become such a big hit?
This is Rachel Ward today, at 65.
If you ask people which television series is the best of all time, you’ll likely get different answers from everyone. There are so many types of shows, and we all have different tastes.
Usually, the most popular series are those that aired for many years, with multiple seasons and strong characters.
Shows like *Bonanza*, *Little House on the Prairie*, *Friends*, *The Sopranos*, and *Twin Peaks* are often mentioned. The debate over which one is the best will probably never be settled, and that’s part of what makes television so great.
**The Thorn Birds**
Some series will always hold a special place in our hearts.
While many shows run for years, there are also miniseries that were not meant to last long but still became very popular.
One of those is *The Thorn Birds*, starring Richard Chamberlain, Rachel Ward, and Bryan Brown.
It first aired in March 1983 and attracted over 30 million viewers in the US for its ten-hour run, based on Colleen McCullough’s 1977 Australian novel *The Thorn Birds*.
The mini-series attracted a lot of attention and was loved by both viewers and critics, winning several awards for its story and the performances of its actors.
**Rachel Ward**
*The Thorn Birds*, which was ten hours long and aired over five nights, is still seen as a classic that will be remembered for many years.
Rachel Ward played Meggie Cleary in *The Thorn Birds*, and at the time, it was a bit of a surprise when she got the role. The producers had a hard time finding the right person for the part, but in the end, Ward was the perfect fit.
Not only did Ward find her big break by starring in the mini-series, but she also met the love of her life on set.
This is the story of Ward and how she traveled the world to keep her passion for films and television alive.
**Rachel Ward – Early Life**
Rachel Ward was born on September 12, 1957, in Cornwell, Oxfordshire, England. She studied at Hatherop Castle School in Hatherop before going to the Byam Shaw School of Art in London. However, when she was just 16 years old, she left school to start a career in fashion.
Ward became a successful fashion and photography model, appearing on the covers of magazines like *Vogue*, *Cosmopolitan*, and *Harper’s & Queen*. She gradually moved into acting after being featured in several commercials.
Years later, in 1995, she earned her Graduate Diploma of Communications and a Graduate Certificate in Writing from the University of Technology, Sydney, Australia.
In 1979, Rachel Ward had her first role in a television movie called *Christmas Lilies of the Field*. In the years that followed, she took on several smaller roles, but in 1983, she became a well-known actress across the United States.
**Casting ‘The Thorn Birds’**
Stan Marguiles was one of the producers of *The Thorn Birds*. However, finding the right actors for the show was not an easy task.
In 1982, he talked about the challenges they faced. But when they saw Rachel Ward, they knew she was perfect for the role of Meggie Cleary.
“She has to go from 18 to her early 50s. From a 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 explained.
Ward remembered the aging process they put her through. “They first started to age me, and it was kind of scary. I had these endless double chins. I wore a bodysuit underneath my clothes. I liked the outfits when I grew older; they were slightly more masculine than they were in the beginning.”
Over 200 women were considered for the role of Meggie Cleary, and 40 actresses auditioned.
Talking to the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, Ward shared her audition experience. “My audition was quite light and I had a sense of humor,” she said. “I was taking it seriously but I wasn’t acting too intensely. It’s so subjective; performances can vary, but I probably nailed it the first time. I got like 10/10 for looks and 4/10 for acting.”
**Golden Globe Nominated**
They sent Ward to work with an acting coach, which turned out to be a great match. Starring alongside Richard Chamberlain as Father Ralph, Ward became a beloved actress, gaining praise from both viewers and critics.
In 1982, she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television.
Chamberlain won a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television. The show itself won four Golden Globes, including Best Miniseries, and six Emmy awards.
“It was the absolute top of the heat of a soap opera,” Chamberlain said. “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 didn’t learn acting in school; she developed her skills over time. As the show aired, she felt like the weaker link among the cast. She struggled with insecurity for years after receiving some negative reviews, including one from The New York Times that said she was “miscast.”
“I felt terribly like I’d disappointed,” she told *Closer*. “I felt that despite me it was a success.”
However, years later, her grown daughter watched *The Thorn Birds* and told her, “Mom, you were fabulous,” Ward recalled. “That was, for me, the most important response that I could’ve ever had.”
“It was a soap opera. I think of it differently now,” Ward said. “Acting styles have changed, and mine was always quite natural. 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 performance in the 1983 miniseries *The Thorn Birds* was a significant step for Ward in her career. However, the production of the show became even more important for her because she met the love of her life during filming.
**Rachel Ward and Bryan Brown**
In *The Thorn Birds*, Rachel Ward and Richard Chamberlain’s characters, Meggie and Father Ralph, had a passionate relationship that kept viewers engaged. Chamberlain mentioned that filming some scenes was challenging.
“There’s a microphone hidden in the armpit… and you’re trying not to smear her lipstick,” he told *Closer*.
Even though Ward and Chamberlain portrayed a love story on screen, the real love story happened off camera. Bryan Brown, who played Meggie’s husband Luke O’Neill, and Ward fell in love while shooting the series.
“What happened on screen was happening off it – that’s why our love scenes were so believable,” Ward told the UK’s *Daily Express*.
“Everyone on set could see they were falling for each other. ‘I’ve never seen two people more in love,’” Chamberlain said. He added that Brown helped Ward relax before filming. “She seemed to get happier and happier, and her work got better and better.”
**Married Months Later**
Ward and Brown clearly had strong chemistry on set. While Ward had a crush on Brown, she humorously blamed him when asked who made the first move. “He was as slow as a wet week. It really took forever. I think I probably did,” she said.
Brown, on the other hand, claimed he was just being a “cunning Aussie bloke” by not approaching her right away. “And before they know it, they’re hooked!” the famous actor joked.
Rachel Ward and Bryan Brown got married a few months after filming *The Thorn Birds* ended. The couple has three children: Rose, Matilda, and Joseph.
So, what happened to Ward after *The Thorn Birds*?
She and Bryan Brown moved to Australia, where Ward acted in several films and TV shows.
**Rachel Ward – This Is Her Today**
In 2001, she was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television for her role in the film *On the Beach*.
Her other works include *The Big House*, *Martha’s New Coat*, and the TV series *Rake*, *Devil’s Playground*, and *The Straits*.
Ward also ventured into producing and directing.
Besides being an actress, wife, mother, and now grandmother, Ward has made sure to give back to society. In 2005, she was awarded 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.”
In May 2019, Ward and Brown became first-time grandparents when their daughter Matilda Brown had a son named Zan.
**Work with Daughter Matilda**
Both Matilda’s parents were there when she gave birth, which made it a very special moment for her.
“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 said. “It was pretty special that both my parents got to be with me through such a monumental time in my life.”
Just days ago, Ward got to see her newborn granddaughter, and she shared a photo on her Instagram.
And isn’t Matilda just the spitting image of her mother!
Ward and her daughter Matilda both chose acting as their careers. However, when Matilda first said she wanted to become an actress, her mother wasn’t very excited.
**Spitting Image of Her Mother**
“Mum definitely said ‘don’t be an actress,’” Matilda recalled. “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, they worked together in the film *The Death and Life of Otto Bloom*. Rachel and Matilda play the same character at different stages of her life.
“We look alike, so obviously there’s a great bonus in that we share physical similarities and mannerisms,” Rachel Ward said. “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 okay to be in your 50s.”
