Rachel Ward wasn’t the obvious choice to play Meggie Cleary in the 1983 miniseries The Thorn Birds. Over 200 women were considered for the role, and producers struggled to find the right fit. “I got like 10/10 for looks and 4/10 for acting,” Ward later admitted about her audition.
But once cast, she captivated over 30 million viewers alongside Richard Chamberlain — even as harsh reviews, including one from The New York Times calling her “miscast,” left her insecure for years. “I felt terribly like I’d disappointed,” she said. It wasn’t until her own daughter watched the series years later and told her, “Mom, you were fabulous,” that Ward finally made peace with her performance.
Off screen, something even bigger was happening. Ward fell in love with co-star Bryan Brown, who played her on-screen husband. “What happened on screen was happening off it — that’s why our love scenes were so believable,” she said. The two married just months after filming wrapped and went on to have three children together.
Now 68, Rachel Ward has built a life far beyond The Thorn Birds — as an award-winning director, a grandmother, and even a co-star alongside her own daughter Matilda in 2016. “We look alike, so there’s a great bonus in that we share physical similarities and mannerisms,” she said.
More than 40 years later, Meggie Cleary is still remembered — but Rachel’s story turned out to be even richer than fiction. 
She was told she was “miscast” — then she went on to become one of television’s most unforgettable faces. 😮
