Sam Neill Biography (3)
Neill's recent credits include his role opposite Robert Redford and Kristen Scott Thomas in the critically acclaimed film The Horse Whisperer, and the science fiction thriller Event Horizon, with Laurence Fishburne. He appeared opposite Meg Ryan, Hugh Grant and Robert Downey Jr. in Restoration, and in Sirens, also with Hugh Grant. Neill also starred in Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park and in Jane Campion's The Piano opposite Holly Hunter and Harvey Keitel.
In addition to a memorable appearance in My Brilliant Career, Neill appeared in Plenty and A Cry in the Dark, for which he won the Australian Film Institute award for Best Actor and was also seen in Dead Calm and The Hunt for Red October.
On television, Neill recently received Emmy nominations for his starring role as the title character in the ABC/Hallmark Hall of Fame Presentation Merlin. He was named Best Actor on British Television, and received a Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal in the title role Reilly, Ace of Spies, and earned a second Golden Globe nomination for his work opposite Judy Davis in the Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation of One Against the Wind.
A native of Northern Ireland, Neill grew up in New Zealand, where he began his career with the Amamaus Theatre Group, subsequently joining the New Zealand Film Unit. In 1991, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his contributions to acting.
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