Sam Neill reveals the unsung hero who served as a pillar of strength during his health battle

Anyone facing a major health battle will undoubtedly cherish the support they receive from loved ones during such a difficult time. Fortunately, beloved actor Sam Neill had just that in someone he described as a “real friend.”

Neill previously shocked his loving fans last year, when he disclosed details of his battle with blood cancer in his memoir, Did I Ever Tell You This?

After concerns for the star’s well-being began to grow, the Jurassic Park star took to social media to assure fans he was doing fine.

“Hi I’m Sam Neill, actor of sorts, vintner, and an author as it happens. And my news seems to be all over the news at the moment, and it’s sort of ‘Cancer ! Cancer! Cancer !’ Which is slightly tiresome because as you see, I am alive and well and I have been in remission for eight months, which feels really good,” he began.

“And I’m alive and kicking and I’m going to work. I’m very happy to be going back to work. We start filming in seven days time. I’m doing a thing called ‘Apples Never Fall’ with Annette Bening , and a really wonderful cast.”

Fortunately, The Dish star is still in remission, and during a recent interview on the Big Talk Show podcast, the 76-year-old opened up about how fellow actor and friend Bryan Brown was there to help him during his health battle.

“I would be completely lost without friends and old friends are even more precious because they have been through the tough times,” Neill said.

“I had a spell in hospital and Bryan came in every day. Every day. I thought: ‘That’s a real friend’.

“He didn’t have anything to say, but he came in and kept me company.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jessica Rowe (@jessjrowe)

While the two “have been friends since 1980”, Neill humorously admitted that “it’s an unlikely friendship” given that they “have nothing in common”.

“I love him dearly, he’s a great family man [and] immensely loyal,” he added.

While Brown’s support during such a difficult time was invaluable, Neill has also previously credited his work with saving his life.

Neill recently revealed to TODAY that his numerous projects had been crucial in helping him survive his battle with blood cancer, sharing that he is “feeling absolutely great”.

Neill shared his optimistic outlook on his health battle, emphasising his resilience and positive approach.

“The thing about cancers, there’s so many different of them, you know and great advances are being made, so there’s always hope and I’m living with it rather than dying from it, that’s the way I look at it,” he said.

“I like working and when I was diagnosed, I didn’t have any work to do, so I wrote a book and that saved my life because I was pretty down and I got up in the morning and I would write and write and write and that was good fun.”