Bryan Brown has played more than 80 roles on stage and screen. Raised in working-class Sydney, his talent, hard work, and unmistakable presence have been his ticket to the world.

Now in his late 70s, Bryan has had more film and television acting roles than he’s had birthdays, and is an instantly recognisable figure on screens around the world.

From Breaker Morant and Newsfront to Two Hands and Sweet Country, a huge number of classic Australian films feature Bryan, a testament to his talent, popularity and work ethic.

Bryan also spent a period working in America, starring most notably in Cocktail and Gorillas In The Mist, before ultimately choosing Sydney over Hollywood.

In the 1980s, working on the American-made series The Thorn Birds utterly changed Bryan’s life. He and British co-star Rachel Ward fell in love and married soon after.

Their creative partnership has been enduring and they worked on one of Bryan's most recent films, Palm Beach, together - with Rachel directing and co-writing, and Bryan also co-producing.

Palm Beach was inspired by a reunion of friends in later life, and a health scare that rocked Bryan’s confidence for several years.

Further Information

Originally broadcast August, 2019.

You can hear Richard's full conversation with Hank Harlow on the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can also read all about the Conversations origin story on the ABC News website.

This episode of Conversations explores acting, Australian cinema, classic movies, Australiana, Australian kitsch, film history, fatherhood, love, rags to riches, Hollywood,, anxiety, mental health, amateur theatre, theater, Red Dog, men's mental health.

20th Anniversary Collection: Bryan Brown’s ticket from Bankstown to Palm Beach

Conversations

20th Anniversary Collection: Bryan Brown’s ticket from Bankstown to Palm Beach