Sam Neill has reached out to fans with a heartfelt video, addressing the concern that arose after his recent cancer update.
The Jurassic Park star, known for his captivating on-screen presence, clarified remarks he made on ABC's Australian Story that have since triggered waves of worry and support.
In the candid episode, the 76-year-old New Zealand actor opened up about his current anti-cancer medication which, while having placed him in remission, will eventually lose its efficacy.
"I’m prepared for that," Neill said while adding that he is "not remotely afraid" of dying.
Neill had initially shared his stage-three blood cancer diagnosis earlier in March, through his memoir Did I Ever Tell You This?. Despite the grim diagnosis, he remained stoic, stating he wasn’t “remotely afraid” of the eventual outcome.
Sam Neill issues an emotional apology to his fans:Following the show's airing, there was an avalanche of concern for the actor. In response, Neill took to Instagram to provide some context.
"They [ABC] showed Australian Story last night, and I made a passing remark there that the treatment I’m on, which has me in remission, will inevitably fail one day," he explained, emphasizing that the comment was "taken out of context" and "conflated".
Optimistically, he added, "It’s a whole new ball game.”, referring to the rapid advancements in cancer treatments.
The video, which showcased the actor sitting on a porch in Perth while shooting for the Foxtel drama The Twelve, was particularly poignant as Neill, known for his usual stoicism, appeared visibly choked up. Assuring fans he remarked, "It’s all good. It’s all fine. It’s a beautiful day. I’m off to work.”
The illustrious actor's health journey began in early 2022 when he detected swollen glands while promoting Jurassic World Dominion.
This discovery led him to revisit his iconic role of Dr. Alan Grant, over three decades after its inception in Spielberg's cinematic masterpiece. After an initial round of chemotherapy showed no positive results, Neill was introduced to a "very expensive" anti-cancer drug, which, as per his conversation with The Guardian, left him feeling "s**thouse" for a couple of days post-consumption.
As Neill continues to immerse himself in work, filming the second season of the legal drama and gearing up for the mini-series, Apples Never Fall, based on Liane Moriarty’s acclaimed novel, fans worldwide send him love and well-wishes.
Through his resilience and transparency, Neill not only exemplifies grace under pressure but also provides hope for many grappling with similar health battles.
