Bryan Brown's Journey from Disliking English to Becoming a Crime Writer
Growing up in Sydney, literature held little appeal for Bryan Brown, the future actor. A long plane flight later, his passion for storytelling took flight.
A Career of Iconic Roles
In person, Bryan Brown is exactly as expected—ruggedly handsome, charismatic, and known for his colorful language. At 78, he remains instantly recognizable after starring in numerous classics from the “event TV era,” such as The Thorn Birds, and films like Breaker Morant. He has also appeared alongside Hollywood stars like Tom Cruise in Cocktail and Sigourney Weaver in Gorillas In The Mist.
Authorial Success
Today, Brown is a bestselling author, not just of Hollywood memoirs but genuine crime fiction. His first book, Sweet Jimmy, a short story collection, was published in 2021. His debut novel, The Drowning, followed in 2023. This month, his third book, The Hidden, is released.
From Hating English to Embracing Storytelling
“I hated English at school. Because we got things like Great Expectations to read …”
He admits now that the Dickens classic is a great novel, “but not when you’re bloody 12 and 14 and 16, and you want to play sport...”
Brown lives in Sydney with his wife, actor and director Rachel Ward. During a podcast visit to Melbourne, he confessed, “I’ve never listened to a podcast, ever.”
Author's Summary
Bryan Brown transformed from a schoolboy who despised reading into a celebrated actor and bestselling crime writer, proving passion can ignite at any stage in life.