Miranda Richardson has shared a heartfelt tribute to her late co-star Sam Neill, describing him as 'cool, suave and weirdly shy'. In a personal reflection, she recalled his rare combination of suaveness and down-to-earth nature, noting that he was 'a great, democratic guy with no bullshit'. Richardson first met Neill on the set of the 1998 television miniseries Merlin, where he played the title role and she portrayed Queen Mab.
Working Together on Merlin
During the production of Merlin, Neill took Richardson out for lunch, where he shared a bottle of pinot noir from his own vineyard, Two Paddocks. Richardson remembered that he spoke passionately about his winemaking ambitions. Years later, on the set of the 2015 adaptation of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, Neill brought bottles of his pinot noir for the cast. He advised them to let the wine breathe for a couple of hours after opening. Richardson admitted she was impatient and tasted it after 45 minutes, finding it undrinkable. She worried about how to tell Neill his wine was awful, but after two hours, she tried again and found it 'completely delicious'. She never revealed her earlier impatience to him.
Rams in Australia
In 2020, Richardson worked with Neill again on the film Rams, shot in Australia. Due to Neill's heavy schedule, she had much free time and explored the region, driving hundreds of miles. Near the end of filming, Neill asked what she had been up to. When she told him, he said, 'Oh, good for you!' Richardson described this as 'high praise from Sam' and meant a lot to her, as he was 'absolutely one of those people from whom you seek approval'.
Personal Memories and Legacy
Richardson mentioned that there was talk of Neill naming an animal after her on his farm, though she was unsure which species. She noted his particular fondness for ducks and said she would not have minded being associated with one. She also praised Neill's courage in confronting his mortality, saying, 'I thought his courage about mortality – saying he didn't worry about that – was fabulous.' Richardson concluded that Neill's life felt full and should be celebrated. 'Sam's felt like a full life to be celebrated,' she said.
