Dear Rachel Ward:
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Rachel Ward
nanafee — 13 years ago(February 09, 2013 05:29 PM)
Please write an autobiography (even though you're way too young) and include your experiences working on The Thorn Birds. Having read the book and seen the mini series hundreds of times, I say you made Meggie your own and your brilliant portrayal is indelibly etched on viewers minds all over the world. Can't picture anyone else as Meggie but you. After watching PBS Pioneers of TV where you called the experience of making Thorn Birds "devastating" it seems more than just the "bad reviews" of a few critics. All actors have had bad reviews for various reasons, including jealousy, etc. Was the filming that awful? Were some of the people involved behind the scenes or in front horrible? Your tears in scenes look real not from a dropper. I loved your portrayal of Meggie in her older years. You pulled that off so well and the begining scenes at the party showed such vulnerability. There can be no other Meggie but you. Please think about it.
A dedicated fan
P.S. I also adored "On The Beach" (2000). You were brilliant. -
harpolini — 11 years ago(November 06, 2014 01:35 PM)
Just watched The Thorn Birds for the first time and loved it. Then I watched the documentary on the DVD. She comes across as very self-centered and ungrateful. She didn't care about this show and even admits to giving a half-hearted audition. She was up against some pretty strong competition and was even shocked they didn't want her back initially. All in all, it seems she feels the show didn't really have much of an impact on her besides meeting her husband which she says is why she came to Hollywood.
Richard Chamberlain on the other hand is a true gentleman and praises that cast and crew involved and recalls the show with fond memories. -
nanafee — 11 years ago(November 06, 2014 04:57 PM)
Thanks for replying. I don't even have the dvd just the vcr set I got years ago which didn't have the documentary. Don't use vcr any more but since you say the dvd comes with the doc. I may invest in it. I do have the gorgeous soundtrack though.
She says she came to Hollywood after meeting her husband? I didn't think she knew her husband before Thorn Birds. I think she might be bitter because of some bad reviews when it first aired. I recorded a PBS show where she did criticize the dialogue she had to say.
Most people agree that they couldn't imagine anyone else in the part. She is the definitive Meggie, even though she and most of the other characters look nothing like the book's description. Also, I remember the author of the book criticized her casting as Meggie, saying, among other things she was too young.
I still think she is wonderful, especially in On The Beach with her real-b68life husband. If you haven't seen it please do. I purchased the DVD have have probably watched at least 75 times. Love it much better than the original 1959 version.