It wasn’t guaranteed that Rachel Ward would land the role of a lifetime when she was cast as Meggie Cleary in the classic miniseries The Thorn Birds.
The British actress and model has enjoyed a long and varied career spanning decades. Today, she lives in Australia with the man she fell in love with on set.
So what really happened during the making of The Thorn Birds? And why did the miniseries become such a massive success?
This is Rachel Ward today, at 68.
Ask anyone to name the greatest television series of all time and you’ll likely get a different answer every time. There are countless genres, and everyone has their own favorites.
Still, the most beloved shows tend to be the ones that ran for years, filled with memorable characters and long‑running storylines.
Bonanza, Little House on the Prairie, Friends, The Sopranos, Twin Peaks — the debate will never be settled, and that’s part of the magic of television.
The Thorn Birds Some series simply stay closer to the heart.
Even though long‑running shows dominate the conversation, several miniseries — never meant to last — have still reached cult status.
One of those is The Thorn Birds, starring Richard Chamberlain, Rachel Ward, and Bryan Brown.
First broadcast in March 1983, the ten‑hour miniseries drew more than 30 million U.S. viewers. It was based on Colleen McCullough’s 1977 Australian novel.
The miniseries sparked huge interest and earned praise from both audiences and critics, winning multiple awards for its story and performances.
Ten hours long and aired over five nights, The Thorn Birds remains a classic to this day.
Rachel Ward played Meggie Cleary, though her casting came as a surprise. Producers struggled to find the right actress — until Ward walked in.
Not only did the role launch her career, it also led her to the love of her life.
This is the story of Rachel Ward — and how she traveled the world to keep her passion for film and television alive.
Rachel Ward – early life Born September 12, 1957, in Cornwell, Oxfordshire, England, Ward attended Hatherop Castle School before studying at the Byam Shaw School of Art in London. But at 16, she left school to pursue modeling.
She became a successful fashion and photography model, appearing on the covers of Vogue, Cosmopolitan, and Harper’s & Queen. Commercial work eventually led her into acting.
Years later, in 1995, she earned a Graduate Diploma of Communications and a Graduate Certificate in Writing from the University of Technology in Sydney.
Ward’s first TV movie role came in 1979 with Christmas Lilies of the Field. After several smaller roles, she became a household name in 1983.
Casting The Thorn Birds Producer Stan Marguiles explained that casting the series was challenging.
But once they saw Rachel Ward, they knew she was perfect for Meggie Cleary.
“She has to go from 18 to her early 50s… There’s an enormous range of emotions and colors,” he said.
Ward recalled the aging process: “They first started to age me, it was kind of scary… I had these endless double chins… I remember liking it when I grew older.”
More than 200 women were considered, and 40 auditioned.
“My audition was quite light and I had a sense of humor,” Ward said. “I got like 10/10 for looks and 4/10 for acting.”
She was sent to work with an acting coach — and it paid off. Starring opposite Richard Chamberlain, she became a fan favorite.
In 1982, she earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television.
Chamberlain won the Golden Globe for Best Actor, and the show itself won four Golden Globes and six Emmys.
“It was the absolute top of the heap of a soap opera,” Chamberlain said.
Rachel Ward: “Felt terribly” Ward didn’t come from formal acting training — she learned on the job. Negative reviews left her feeling insecure for years. The New York Times even called her “miscast.”
“I felt terribly like I’d disappointed,” she said. “I felt that despite me it was a success.”
Years later, her daughter watched the series and told her, “Mom, you were fabulous.” Ward said that meant more than any review.
“It was soap opera… Acting styles have changed… They tried to make me something I wasn’t naturally.”
Rachel Ward & Bryan Brown On screen, Meggie and Father Ralph shared intense chemistry — but the real love story happened off camera.
Bryan Brown, who played Meggie’s husband Luke O’Neill, fell in love with Ward during filming.
“What happened on screen was happening off it,” Ward said. “That’s why our love scenes were so believable.”
Chamberlain added, “I’ve never seen two people more in love.”
Ward joked that Bryan was slow to make the first move: “He was as slow as a wet week.”
Brown insisted he was just being “a cunning Aussie bloke.”
They married months after filming wrapped and went on to have three children: Rose, Matilda, and Joseph.
Life after The Thorn Birds Ward and Brown moved to Australia, where she continued acting in film and television.
In 2001, she earned another Golden Globe nomination for On the Beach.
Her credits include The Big House, Martha’s New Coat, Rake, Devil’s Playground, and The Straits. She also expanded into producing and directing.
In 2005, she was awarded the A.M. (Member of the Order of Australia) for her advocacy work supporting disadvantaged youth.
In 2019, Ward and Brown became grandparents when daughter Matilda welcomed her son Zan.
Matilda described the birth as incredibly special, with both parents by her side.
Ward recently celebrated the arrival of her newborn granddaughter, sharing the moment on Instagram.
Matilda, who resembles her mother, also became an actress — though Ward initially discouraged it.
“Mum definitely said ‘don’t be an actress,’” Matilda said. “She encouraged me to go to film school.”
In 2016, they worked together in The Death and Life of Otto Bloom, playing the same character at different ages.
“We look alike… and women over 40 are basically invisible in film,” Ward said. “It’s a treat when something comes along where it’s okay to be in your 50s.”
Rachel Ward was unforgettable as Meggie Cleary in The Thorn Birds, and it’s wonderful to see her still thriving today.
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