Miranda Richardson has shared her memories of Sam Neill, describing him as 'cool, suave and weirdly shy' while praising his ease in life and his courage in confronting mortality. Richardson worked with Neill on several projects, including the 1998 television series Merlin, the 2015 miniseries And Then There Were None, and the 2020 film Rams.
First Impressions and a Shared Lunch
Richardson recalled her first meeting with Neill: 'When I first met Sam, I thought he was handsome, cool and weirdly shy. He was always a rare combination of suave and down-to-earth: this great, democratic guy with no bullshit. I just loved the way he seemed to cruise through life. He had such ease about him.'
She noted that acting was just one part of Neill's life, as he was eager to return to his farm, his wine, and his animals. During the filming of Merlin in 1998, Neill took Richardson out for lunch, where they enjoyed a bottle of pinot noir. He told her that was the quality he aimed for with his winery, Two Paddocks.
Wine Wisdom and a Lesson in Patience
On the set of And Then There Were None in 2015, Neill brought bottles of his own pinot noir to share with the cast, advising them to let the wine breathe for a couple of hours after opening. Richardson admitted being impatient: 'I was very unrestrained. I thought, “He can’t mean that.” So after 45 minutes, I had a taste and it was filthy. I thought: Oh my God, how am I gonna tell Sam his wine is awful? I’ll have to lie and I can’t do that.' She left the bottle and tried it again after two hours, finding it 'completely delicious.' She never told Neill about her initial mistake, knowing he would have said it served her right.
Working Together on Rams
In 2020, Richardson and Neill reunited for the film Rams, shot in Australia. Although she was delighted to work with him again, she had little time with him due to his heavy schedule. Instead, she explored the region, driving hundreds of miles to discover new places. Near the end of the shoot, Neill asked what she had been up to, and when she told him, he said: 'Oh, good for you!' Richardson reflected: 'He liked that I hadn’t just hung around the hotel or the local area. That was high praise from Sam and it meant a lot to me. He was absolutely one of those people from whom you seek approval.'
A Potential Namesake Animal
Richardson never visited Neill's farm, but she recalled that there was talk of him naming an animal after her. 'I’m not sure which species, but he seemed to lavish a lot of attention on the ducks, so I wouldn’t have minded it being one of those.' She noted how many people were affected by Neill, especially during the Covid pandemic when he gained a new audience on social media as he shared his life on the farm.
Courage and a Life Well Lived
Richardson praised Neill's attitude toward mortality, saying: 'He was a guy for whom it felt like time was expanding, and I thought his courage about mortality – saying he didn’t worry about that – was fabulous. I think, and hope, he had a great deal of fun. Sam’s felt like a full life to be celebrated.'
Miranda Richardson's tribute joins many others from actors, directors, and leaders who have remembered Sam Neill as a true gentleman and a remarkable talent.
