Acclaimed director Jane Campion has paid an emotional tribute to her longtime friend and collaborator Sam Neill, recalling both the early days of their celebrated work together and the final moments she spent with the actor before his death.
Campion, who directed Neill in the 1993 Palme d’Or-winning film The Piano, described the New Zealand-born star as ‘effortlessly handsome’ and ‘that rare thing in New Zealand and Australia: a true movie star.’
Writing in a deeply personal tribute, the Oscar-winning director recalled the nerves she felt when first meeting Neill at a café in Vulcan Lane, Auckland, ahead of pre-production on The Piano. ‘My hands actually shook when I met him,’ she admitted, describing how the actor had been cast in the challenging role of Stewart — the repressed and volatile husband who, in one of the film’s most shocking scenes, mutilates his wife’s hand. ‘Who but Sam could play that part, could surprise with that part?’ Campion wrote.
The director also shared a poignant account of the last time she visited Neill in hospital, describing him as ‘radiating peace’ and ‘beaming love’ despite his condition — a final image she said she would carry with her always.
Neill, who rose to global fame through his role as Dr Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park franchise, had spoken openly in recent years about his battle with a rare form of blood cancer, first diagnosed in 2022. He continued working and making public appearances throughout his illness, earning widespread admiration for his candour and warmth.
Tributes have poured in from across the film industry, with actors, directors and public figures remembering Neill as ‘a true gentleman’ whose generosity and humanity left a lasting impression on all who worked alongside him.
