Actress Rachel Ward, famed for her role in the iconic miniseries The Thorn Birds, has made headlines this week for a powerful dual reason: clapping back at online trolls criticising her appearance and celebrating her enduring four-decade marriage to fellow star Bryan Brown.
A Graceful Rebuttal to Online Cruelty
The 68-year-old actress found herself targeted by negative comments after sharing a video promoting her ethical meat venture, Farmthru. Critics remarked on her age, with one stating, "I read she's 68. Looks way older!" and another cruelly asking, "OMG what the hell happened to u? U were so pretty???"
Rather than ignore the remarks, Ward offered a poignant and dignified response. Replying to a supporter who defended her, she wrote, "I just feel sorry for those poor souls who fear ageing so much. They will learn that it's ultimate freedom as a woman to let youth and beauty go." She added, "It was lovely while it lasted, but so much more to life."
A Love Story Forged on Set
This public moment of strength contrasts with the private, wholesome life Ward leads away from the spotlight. She resides on a beef cattle farm in New South Wales, Australia, with her husband of over 40 years, Bryan Brown, 78.
The couple's romance is a true showbiz fairytale, beginning on the set of The Thorn Birds in 1983. While her character Meggie was caught in a love triangle involving Bryan's character Luke, the chemistry off-screen proved undeniable. Both have credited an instant physical attraction. Reflecting in 2019, Ward teased, "He had nice pecs. I mean, you know, it's pretty chemical, isn't it? It's pretty basic. I fancied him."
Bryan, joking about his deliberate pace, insisted he was being a "cunning Aussie bloke" by taking his time. Ward, however, claims she likely made the first move, quipping, "He was slow as a wet week."
The Secret to a 40-Year Marriage
The pair tied the knot just months after meeting and went on to have three children: Rosie, Matilda, and Joseph. They are now grandparents to Matilda's children, Zan and Anouk.
Despite their deep bond, they attribute the longevity of their union to maintaining independence. "I find that I am good on my own. He's fine on his own, too," Ward explained in a 2024 interview. "I think it's pretty healthy after 40 years of marriage to have some time apart."
Their backgrounds are strikingly different—Brown is a working-class man from Sydney, while Ward was raised in an upper-class English family in the Cotswolds. She has said she was drawn to his strong moral values, which contrasted with her more hedonistic upbringing.
In a 2022 interview, Brown expressed profound gratitude for the series that brought them together: "Whatever work opportunities came from that, I will always be more grateful to it for my 40-year marriage and family." Together, they have built a life far removed from Hollywood, centred on family, farm, and a partnership that has gracefully weathered over four decades.
