Bryan Brown Hated English as a Kid — One Book Changed Everything
Growing up in Sydney, literature meant little to Bryan Brown. The future actor preferred sports over books, and English class never inspired him. But a single long flight years later helped awaken his passion for storytelling.
A Ruggedly Charismatic Icon
In person, Bryan Brown appears just as people imagine him — rugged, charming, and unfiltered. At 78, he remains instantly recognizable for his roles in classics from the “event TV” era such as The Thorn Birds, the film Breaker Morant, and major Hollywood productions including Cocktail with Tom Cruise and Gorillas in the Mist alongside Sigourney Weaver.
From Actor to Author
Today, Brown has also earned a reputation as a bestselling author, not of memoirs, but as a genuine crime writer. His first book, Sweet Jimmy, a collection of short stories, came out in 2021, followed by his debut novel The Drowning in 2023. His latest novel, The Hidden, has just been released.
From Hating English to Loving Stories
“I hated English at school,” he says. “Because we got things like Great Expectations to read …”
He now admits that Dickens’ classic is a great novel, but laughs about how it didn’t appeal when he was “bloody 12 and 14 and 16, and wanted to play sport.” Today, that same boy who once disliked reading is a storyteller whose voice resonates with readers worldwide.
Life and Work Today
We meet for lunch in Fitzroy. Though Brown lives in Sydney with his wife, actor and director Rachel Ward, he’s visiting Melbourne for a podcast recording — despite joking,
“I’ve never listened to a podcast, ever.”
Author’s summary: Once resistant to reading, Bryan Brown found his creative voice midlife, transforming from sports-loving student to acclaimed actor and bestselling author.