Bryan Brown's Transformation from Reluctant Reader to Acclaimed Author
Bryan Brown, the Australian actor, once had little interest in literature during his childhood in Sydney. Despite his current fame, both on screen and as a writer, he admits to disliking English at school.
An Unexpected Journey to Storytelling
Brown explains his early aversion: “I hated English at school,” especially because of assigned readings like Great Expectations. He acknowledges now that Dickens’s novel is excellent, but not appealing “when you’re bloody 12 and 14 and 16, and you want to play sport...”
A Career Spanning Iconic Roles and New Ventures
Over the years, Brown has become a familiar face through numerous classic projects, including the TV event The Thorn Birds, the film Breaker Morant, and roles alongside Hollywood stars such as Tom Cruise in Cocktail and Sigourney Weaver in Gorillas In The Mist. Now aged 78, he still carries his rugged charm and charisma.
From Hollywood Actor to Crime Writer
Remarkably, Brown turned to writing later in life. His first book, Sweet Jimmy, a short story collection, was published in 2021, followed by his debut novel The Drowning in 2023. His third book, The Hidden, was released this month.
Bryan Brown lives in Sydney with his wife, actor and director Rachel Ward, but was recently in Melbourne for a podcast appearance, despite admitting, “I’ve never listened to a podcast, ever.”
“I hated English at school. Because we got things like Great Expectations to read...”
“Not when you’re bloody 12 and 14 and 16, and you want to play sport...”
“I’ve never listened to a podcast, ever.”
Author's summary: Bryan Brown transformed from a boy who disliked English to a celebrated actor and bestselling crime author, revealing how a long flight sparked his storytelling passion.