{"id":9704,"date":"2026-02-09T18:41:29","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T18:41:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/?p=9704"},"modified":"2026-02-09T18:41:29","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T18:41:29","slug":"remember-meggie-cleary-from-the-thorn-birds-see-how-she-looks-today-at-68","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/remember-meggie-cleary-from-the-thorn-birds-see-how-she-looks-today-at-68\/","title":{"rendered":"Remember Meggie Cleary from The Thorn Birds? See How She Looks Today at 68"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Rachel Ward wasn\u2019t guaranteed stardom. Yet when she was cast as Meggie Cleary in the iconic miniseries The Thorn Birds<\/em>, her life\u2014and career\u2014changed forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the time, Ward was still transitioning from modeling to acting. The miniseries didn\u2019t just make her a household name; it introduced her to love, family, and a life she never could have imagined on the other side of the world. Decades later, Ward is still closely linked to Meggie Cleary, a character whose strength and resilience captivated audiences worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A Miniseries That Made History<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Television history is filled with unforgettable series, but sometimes it\u2019s the limited, intense stories that leave the deepest mark. The Thorn Birds<\/em>, first broadcast in March 1983, is one such story. Based on Colleen McCullough\u2019s bestselling novel, the ten-hour miniseries chronicled Meggie\u2019s life and her forbidden love for Father Ralph de Bricassart, played by Richard Chamberlain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Continue reading on next page…<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Over five nights, more than 30 million U.S. viewers tuned in. Audiences were drawn to its sweeping emotions, complex characters, and the lush Australian landscapes. Critics praised the performances, and the series earned multiple Golden Globes and Emmy Awards. Even today, it\u2019s remembered as one of television\u2019s most powerful miniseries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rachel Ward: The Unexpected Meggie<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Finding Meggie Cleary wasn\u2019t easy. Producers searched for months for an actress who could portray the character\u2019s journey\u2014from innocent 18-year-old to reflective woman in her fifties. Over 200 women were considered, around 40 auditioned, and Ward\u2019s understated, natural performance stood out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just took it seriously without acting with a capital A,\u201d Ward later explained. \u201cI was probably just right in that moment.\u201d Though producers initially focused more on her appearance than her acting, she was trained by a coach and transformed into the Meggie audiences remember.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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From Model to Actress<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Born September 12, 1957, in Oxfordshire, England, Ward grew up in a well-connected family but followed a creative path. She studied art in London before launching a modeling career at 16, appearing in top magazines like Vogue<\/em> and Harper\u2019s & Queen<\/em>. Modeling brought fame and money, but Ward sought fulfillment through acting, starting with commercials and small roles before landing her breakthrough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breakthrough and Global Recognition<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Thorn Birds<\/em> turned Ward into an international star. Acting alongside Chamberlain, she captured Meggie\u2019s vulnerability, courage, and emotional depth. Ward earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television, while the show itself won four Golden Globes and six Emmys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even with success, Ward battled self-doubt. Critics questioned her casting, and a New York Times<\/em> review called her \u201cmiscast.\u201d Yet years later, hearing her grown daughter praise her performance became one of Ward\u2019s most cherished validations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Love on Set<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While Meggie\u2019s romantic story unfolded onscreen, Ward\u2019s real-life romance blossomed behind the scenes. She and co-star Bryan Brown fell in love while filming, a connection so natural that colleagues noticed immediately. They married months later, raised three children, and built a life in Australia, making the country both home and inspiration for Ward\u2019s continued work in film and television.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evolving Career and Creative Legacy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ward continued acting in films like On the Beach<\/em> and TV series including Rake<\/em> and Devil\u2019s Playground<\/em>. She transitioned into directing and producing, shaping stories behind the camera, and was honored with the Member of the Order of Australia for her advocacy work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her daughter, Matilda Brown, followed in her footsteps. Together, they co-starred in The Death and Life of Otto Bloom<\/em>, portraying the same character at different ages\u2014a rare, meaningful opportunity for women over 40 in film.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rachel Ward Today<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Now in her mid-60s, Rachel Ward is admired not just for Meggie Cleary, but for a career defined by resilience, growth, and creative honesty. From modeling in England to acting and directing in Australia, from self-doubt to self-acceptance, Ward\u2019s journey mirrors the strength of the characters she portrays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Thorn Birds<\/em> may have been her breakout role, but Ward\u2019s life proves that true success comes from love, purpose, and staying authentic\u2014on screen and off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s your favorite iconic TV performance?<\/strong> Comment below and share your thoughts\u2014we\u2019d love to hear which roles left a lasting impression on you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rachel Ward wasn\u2019t guaranteed stardom. Yet when she was cast as Meggie Cleary in the iconic miniseries The Thorn Birds,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":9710,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9704","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrity"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9704","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9704"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9704\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9711,"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9704\/revisions\/9711"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9710"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9704"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9704"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9704"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}