Bryan Brown's Journey from Disliking English to Becoming a Crime Writer
As a child growing up in Sydney, Bryan Brown had little interest in literature. He openly admits, “I hated English at school,” especially when assigned books like Great Expectations. Although he now acknowledges Dickens' classic as great, it wasn’t appealing “when you’re bloody 12 and 14 and 16, and you want to play sport...”
A Transformative Flight and Career Highlights
A long plane flight unlocked his passion for storytelling, leading to a remarkable career. At 78 years old, Bryan Brown remains instantly recognizable from his roles in classic TV and film. He starred in iconic productions like The Thorn Birds, Breaker Morant, and worked alongside Hollywood stars such as Tom Cruise in Cocktail and Sigourney Weaver in Gorillas in the Mist.
Authorial Success Beyond Acting
In recent years, Brown has also earned acclaim as an author. Far from a typical celebrity memoir, his works focus on crime fiction. He debuted in 2021 with Sweet Jimmy, a collection of short stories, followed by his first novel, The Drowning, in 2023. This November, he released his third book, The Hidden.
Personal Life and Current Activities
Brown lives in Sydney with his wife, actor and director Rachel Ward. The two met for lunch in Fitzroy while Brown was in Melbourne for a podcast appearance, even though he confesses, “I’ve never listened to a podcast, ever.”
“I hated English at school… not when you’re bloody 12 and 14 and 16, and you want to play sport...”
“I’ve never listened to a podcast, ever.”
Author's summary: Bryan Brown transformed his childhood dislike of English into a successful career in acting and crime writing, proving passion can emerge from unexpected experiences.