Why the performer of the main role in the television series "The Thorn Birds" was persecuted, and how her life turned out: Rachel Ward

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

When the television series Singing in the Thorns was released in 1983, the leading actors immediately became known throughout the world. Among them was the charming Rachel Ward, who played the role of Maggie Cleary. But it seems that she was the only one who was not only treated kindly by the attention of the public, but was also subjected to numerous attacks. Then Rachel had a very hard time, and she lost confidence in herself for a long time.

Heiress of a glorious family

Rachel Claire Ward was born in Cornwall, near Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England, to Claire Leonora (née Baring) and the Honorable J. Peter Alistair Ward. The baby's great-grandfather was the legendary William Ward, 2nd Earl of Dudley, Governor General of Australia. The parents definitely could not get enough of the appearance of their daughter, and when she began to grow up, they allowed her a lot. I must say that young Rachel did not abuse her parental kindness too much, and therefore grew up as a well-bred sensible girl. But at the same time, a desire for freedom seethed in her.

At the age of 16, after graduating from the London drama school Byam Shaw School of Art, she suddenly told her parents that she wanted to become a model, for which she urgently needed to go to New York. Parents, knowing the nature of their daughter, were not even going to stop her. And in New York, Rachel was able to quickly declare herself.

Her photographs were printed on the covers of fashion magazines, she starred in television commercials, and then made her film debut. As an aspiring actress, Rachel Ward even won a Golden Globe for New Star of the Year for her role in Sharkey's Car in 1981. But real success came to her in 1983, when the TV series "Singing in the Thorns" was shown on television.

Complex shooting

At the very beginning of filming, the actress even began to regret her consent to take part in the project. She constantly thought that she looked worse than other actors in the frame, and played completely mediocre. And Rachel Ward asked over and over again to shoot another take, put on a different light, change the angle.

And after it, it was as if it was changed. She suddenly completely relaxed, felt confident in herself and literally began to glow with joy and happiness. The secret of magical transformation was revealed very quickly. Actor Brian Brown, who played Maggie's husband Luke O'Neill in the series, was able to win the heart of his on-screen wife once and for all. During the filming, Brian became a real support and support for Rachel, helped her to believe in herself.

The actor at that time had a reputation as an experienced womanizer, and at first the crew thought that Rachel Ward was just another hobby of Brian Brown. But everything turned out to be much more serious.

The actor gathered his strength for a long time to propose to his beloved. Everyone knew that the girl was a real aristocrat, was brought up in a good family and was always proud of her ancestors. Brown, on the other hand, had only a mother who raised two children on her own and took on any job to feed them. It seems that the actor's hands never trembled so much as at the moment when he uttered the cherished words and held out a box with a ring to Rachel. And he was able to relax only after his beloved agreed.

Hard times

After the release of the series "The Thorn Birds" all the actors who played the main roles became famous, the film itself won many significant film awards. But Rachel also had to listen to numerous criticisms.

It all started with the fact that the author of the work of the same name, on which the tape was filmed, categorically did not like Rachel Ward in the role of Maggie. According to Colin McCullough, the actress was completely different from the heroine of the novel she described.

Following the author of the novel, viewers began to treat Rachel with some contempt simply because her love line was written in too much detail in the film, in contrast to the difficult fates of her on-screen brothers. For some reason, it never occurred to anyone that the script was not written by her, and the film was filmed by the director.

Some viewers and critics even stooped to outright insults, calling the actress a beautiful dummy and a dummy. Rachel was accused of poor play and lack of talent. The actress bravely endured attacks that resembled outright persecution in places, and, if not for the support of her beloved husband, she could completely break down.

At the casting, the filmmakers preferred to see Rachel in the image of Maggie, rather than giving the role to Michelle Pfeiffer and Kim Basinger, who also passed the casting. Then she was happy, and after the release of the series on the screens, the actress felt deeply unhappy. For many years, she had a reputation as a bad actress and nothing could save her. Later, Rachel Ward still starred in films, but, in fact, remained an actress in one role.

But Rachel became a happy wife and mother of three children. She went to her husband's homeland in Australia, where she still lives. Brian Brown and Rachel Ward have failed to achieve outstanding film success, but they have more than fame: it is their feelings that have not faded over time. They are still together and still look at each other with the same enthusiasm, continuing to love with no less ardor and passion than in the year when they first met.

A completely different fate awaited the Turkish actress, who starred in the main role in the TV series "Kinglet - a songbird." Aidan Shener fans were literally ready to carry on their hands. In the life of an actress, partly reflected the fate of her most famous heroine. She had to fight against outdated views and defend her own right to freedom.