Bryan Brown's Changing Relationship with Literature
Growing up in Sydney, Bryan Brown felt detached from literature and disliked English at school. The classic works assigned, such as Great Expectations, failed to capture his interest during his youth.
From Disinterest to Storytelling
Despite his early aversion, a long plane flight sparked Brown's inner storyteller, leading him to embrace writing later in life.
Acting Career Highlights
- Rugged and charismatic, Brown remains instantly recognizable at 78.
- Starred in iconic TV classics like The Thorn Birds.
- Featured in films such as Breaker Morant and acted alongside Tom Cruise in Cocktail and Sigourney Weaver in Gorillas In The Mist.
Transition to Writing
Brown has become a bestselling author, not just of Hollywood memoirs but also real crime fiction.
- 2021: Published Sweet Jimmy, a collection of short stories.
- 2023: Released debut novel The Drowning.
- 2025: Third book, The Hidden, published this month.
“I hated English at school. Because we got things like Great Expectations to read… not when you’re bloody 12 and 14 and 16, and you want to play sport...”
Current Life
Brown lives in Sydney with his wife, actor and director Rachel Ward. Recently, he traveled to Melbourne for a podcast appearance, despite never having listened to one before.
“I’ve never listened to a podcast, ever,” he admits.
Author's Summary
Bryan Brown transformed from a boy who hated reading into a celebrated actor and crime author, proving passion can emerge from unexpected places.