Veteran Australian actor Bryan Brown has disclosed a major career 'what if', revealing he was offered a starring role in the iconic 1994 film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.
The Role That Got Away
In a new interview, the 78-year-old star of Boy Swallows Universe confirmed he was approached to play the part of a drag performer, a role that was ultimately taken by the late, great British actor Terence Stamp. Brown told The Daily Telegraph he thought the idea of getting dressed up for the part was "f**king hilarious" and something he "really fancied".
However, a scheduling conflict forced him to make a tough choice. At the time, Brown was deeply invested in producing his own television anthology series, Twisted Tales, for the Nine network. The low-budget Australian drag comedy was due to film concurrently. "I'd thought [Twisted Tales] up. I knew what I was after. And I would have had to bail," he explained, reflecting on the decision.
A Lasting Regret and a Lasting Career
Brown admitted this refusal remains a notable regret. "I loved it (the film) – that's probably the only thing I can remember where I went: 'That would have been fun and I said no'," he stated. The film, featuring star-making turns from Guy Pearce and Hugo Weaving, became an international sensation. It earned over $30 million globally against a modest budget of just over $2 million and later inspired a successful stage musical.
Stamp's performance as transgender woman Bernadette was hailed as a career highlight, earning great acclaim. Meanwhile, Brown was already a household name in Australia and internationally from films like Breaker Morant (1980) and Cocktail (1986) with Tom Cruise.
Reflecting on Five Decades in Film
Elsewhere in the chat, Brown reflected on his 50-year screen career, which recently included a role in the Sydney Sweeney rom-com Anyone But You. "Well, I've lasted, haven't I?" he mused. "All I try to do is be real in whatever part I'm playing. And if people think I am, then I've achieved what I am supposed to have achieved."
He added with characteristic humour that he's started to notice a new generation recognising him: "I've started to see even some of the under 45s go: 'Isn't that the old f***er that was in Anyone But You'?"
The actor's personal life also found its happy ending on set. He met his wife, actress Rachel Ward, while filming the US mini-series The Thorn Birds in 1983. Playing husband and wife on screen, they married in real life later that same year and have three children.
