Rachel Ward, known for her role in “The Thorn Birds,” recently shared her journey from Hollywood to farming in Australia. Ward, who grew up in Britain, initially found success in modeling before pursuing acting in Los Angeles in the early 1980s.
During an episode of Australia’s Broadcasting Company’s docuseries “Australian Story,” Ward expressed her disillusionment with Hollywood. She described the entertainment scene as “vacuous” and unsatisfying.
“You soon find it’s a very vacuous place to inhabit,” Ward said. “I was just make-up, I was fantasy.”
Ward hoped to emulate the career of Oscar-winning actress Julie Christie but found that roles increasingly objectified actresses. Disappointed by this, she decided to leave Hollywood.
In 1981, Ward earned critical acclaim for her role in “Sharky’s Machine.” This led to her breakthrough role as Meggie Cleary in “The Thorn Birds.” The miniseries was a significant success, earning Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.
Meeting her future husband, Bryan Brown, on the set of “The Thorn Birds,” Ward found love and married him in 1983. They later moved to an 865-acre farm in New South Wales, Australia. Ward shared how the birth of their children, Rosie, Matilda, and Joe, influenced her decision to settle in Australia permanently.
Although she continued acting, the devastating bushfires in Australia during 2019-2020 had a profound impact on Ward. The crisis made her focus on climate change and led to a period of depression.
“I felt very impotent to do anything,” she admitted. “It’s a major existential issue that we are dealing with.”
Seeking a new purpose, Ward and her husband transitioned from conventional farming to regenerative practices. This change revitalized her spirit, as she explained in her documentary “Rachel’s Farm.”
Despite facing online criticism for her appearance after posting a makeup-free video, Ward dismissed the negativity and emphasized the importance of embracing aging. She highlighted the pressures women face regarding maintaining youthful appearances.
“Why do we feel we’ve got to pretend that we’re still 40 when we’re 68?” she questioned. “The more wretched I looked, the more followers I have.”
Ward’s focus on farming has become central to her identity. She expressed a desire to concentrate on her farm’s success over her appearance.
“All I want to hear is, ‘Actually, Rachel’s cows are looking pretty good,'” she concluded.
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