For countless fans worldwide, Sam Neill’s portrayal in Jurassic Park etched a lasting image of dinosaurs that felt eerily real. His performance turned the prehistoric creatures into unforgettable cinematic icons.
However, my personal memory of the legendary New Zealand actor goes beyond the big screen. It includes a brief yet impactful joke that encapsulates his character perfectly.
In 2018, I had the chance to be an extra on the set of Ride Like a Girl, an Australian film depicting jockey Michelle Payne’s dramatic triumph in the 2015 Melbourne Cup.
The movie was filmed in Melbourne and various locations in regional Victoria. Over the few days we spent shooting, I had the unique experience of working alongside one of Hollywood’s esteemed talents, whose journey from modest beginnings to international stardom is truly inspiring.
To everyone on set, including his co-stars Teresa Palmer and Magda Szubanski, he was simply known as Sam. He was the remarkable actor bringing to life the role of Michelle Payne’s father, without airs or pretension.
To me, though, he was the Jurassic Park legend who had stared down a Tyrannosaurus Rex – and lived to tell the tale.
Back in 2018, Daily Mail reporter Jimmy Briggs worked as an extra on the set of Ride Like a Girl, the Australian film telling the story of jockey Michelle Payne’s remarkable 2015 Melbourne Cup victory. (Pictured: Sam Neill and Teresa Palmer in a scene from Ride Like a Girl)
Neill was much like many of the characters he played on screen – quietly confident, warm, funny and very down to earth. I heard him praise Michelle Payne for insisting her brother Stevie (left), who has Down syndrome, play himself in the film
I remember my first encounter with Neill. I was standing with another extra when we spotted him walking towards us.
Noticing us staring, Neill flashed a grin and quipped: ‘Don’t worry… I don’t bite!’
The perfectly timed joke broke the ice instantly. We burst into laughter and, just like that, the awkwardness disappeared.
It was only a throwaway comment, but it said everything about the man. Rather than walking past two nervous extras, Neill went out of his way to make us feel comfortable and welcome.
As filming wrapped one afternoon, Neill smiled at a group of us extras and simply said: ‘Thanks for your hard work, everyone.’
It was only a brief comment, but it made my day. Extras rarely get noticed, let alone thanked by one of Hollywood’s biggest stars; I remember thinking how great it was that Sam Neill considered what we were doing ‘hard work’ at all.
Working as an extra is a strange job: you’re expected to blend into the background, but it also gives you a front-row seat to watch actors when the cameras aren’t rolling.
From everything I saw, Neill was much like many of the characters he played on screen – quietly confident, warm, funny and very down to earth.
I remember my first encounter with Neill. I was standing with another extra when we spotted him walking towards us. Pictured: Daily Mail reporter Jimmy Briggs (left) with actress Teresa Palmer (right)
To me, though, he was the Jurassic Park legend who had stared down a Tyrannosaurus Rex and lived to tell the tale
He chatted effortlessly with cast and crew alike, his dry wit keeping people smiling between takes.
One conversation I overheard has stayed with me ever since.
Neill was talking about the atmosphere on set and said everyone – from the extras and catering staff to the camera crew and lead actors – was just as important as everyone else.
He said he loved working on a production like Ride Like a Girl because everyone felt valued and respected.
It was a sentiment he clearly lived by.
Not long afterwards, I heard him praise Michelle Payne for insisting her brother Stevie, who has Down syndrome, play himself in the film rather than casting a professional actor.
Neill said Stevie’s inclusion gave the movie a level of authenticity that simply couldn’t be replicated, and spoke warmly about what he thought was a brilliant decision.
Neither conversation was for the cameras.
I remember standing with another extra when we spotted Neill walking towards us. We both froze, completely starstruck. Noticing us staring, Neill flashed a grin and quipped: ‘Don’t worry… I don’t bite!’
They were simply candid and unscripted moments with a world-famous actor who continually showed he was a genuinely kind, down-to-earth bloke.
It is those moments – far more than the dinosaurs, Hollywood fame or red carpets – that I’ll remember most.
It comes after Neill died on Monday at the age of 78, just months after he revealed he was ‘cancer-free’ following a long battle with the disease.
The New Zealand actor – who starred in blockbusters such as Jurassic Park and The Piano – died in hospital.
His family described his death as ‘sudden and unexpected’ in a statement published on his Instagram page. The actor was previously diagnosed with a type of blood cancer.
‘It is with immense sadness that the family of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13 July, in Sydney, Australia. Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life,’ they said.
‘The loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer-free. They would like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff at St Vincent’s Private Hospital for their incredible care.
‘More details will be shared later, but for now, on behalf of the family, we ask that you respect their privacy as they navigate this immeasurable loss.’
While Hollywood mourns a cinematic titan, those who were lucky enough to share even a brief moment with him on set will remember a man who brought just as much joy off-screen as he did on it.