After starring in “The Thorn Birds” in 1983, American actress Rachel Ward rose to fame.
Despite the fact that she is presently in her mid-60s, many don’t think she has changed much since starring in the series.
The series brought Ward not only recognition but also affection. Ward and her husband struck up a conversation on the set of the play, and their relationship quickly blossomed.
However, the actress claims that it wasn’t love at first sight.
She was married to Bryan Brown, who played Ward, the main character in the series. Despite their “basic” initial attraction, the couple’s relationship blossomed into a romantic one, which made their on-screen marriage actual.
Brown and Ward are still as much in love as they were when they first got married, forty years later. They tied the knot a few months after “The Thorn Birds” was shot.
While acknowledging that the program has opened up many opportunities for her to find work and have other life-changing events, Ward is most appreciative of and proud of her continued marriage to Brown.
While the pair was on set, Brown once offered to read Ward’s palm. When she gave her consent, he told her that she would have three children. He then cracked the following joke:
Sure, I did say that. I did not claim them as mine, though.
Brown explained her desire to marry Ward in a bit out of the ordinary way. Their argument stemmed from the fact that they had traveled to Ireland together so that Brown could shoot “Give My Regards to Wall Street.”
Brown claimed that the argument was quite severe and that it would be better for them to get married because they would be so much at odds. They were married in Ward’s childhood home before moving to Sydney, Australia.
The couple celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on April 16, 2023, and shared the secrets to their long-lasting and happy marriage. Ward has also shown off her ageless beauty at 65.
How does Ward see 65 years old and what kind of family does she have?
At the film’s Santa Barbara Film Festival premiere on February 18, 2023, Ward shared a photo of herself with Hilary Shapiro and Daryl Hannah. Rachel’s Farm is the name of the film.
A few admirers expressed their excitement over seeing Ward in a film, while others were amazed at how stunning she still looked at 65. Some called her a “goddess,” while others called her “fantastic.”
Meggie from “The Thorn Birds” was mentioned by certain admirers as someone who will always be on their minds, and one fan exclaimed:
“You’re so beautiful, Rachel!”
Ward and her husband began a family when she wasn’t making movies or building her career in Hollywood. The couple has two daughters, Rosie and Matilda, and a son, Joe.
All three of the children followed in their parents’ footsteps and became actors. Joe, 31, is well-known for his roles in the motion pictures “Let’s Talk About” and “Rake,” although he hasn’t yet been in any other picture.
Matilda, 36, expanded her career beyond acting to include directing. She co-wrote “Let’s Talk About” with her brother and is also recognized for “How God Works” and “Lessons from the Grave.” The 39-year-old Ward’s daughter Rosie has made appearances on TV shows Luther, Black Mirror, and See How They Run.
The couple Ward and Brown, together with their daughter Matilda, welcomed their first grandchild in 2019. They are incredibly proud of all of their children. The little boy named Zan was born in that room with his grandfather there. When asked why he chose to stay and see the baby born, Brown had this response:
“No one told me to leave the delivery room, so I didn’t.”
Zan’s grandparents were surprised by his delivery because only Ward was expected to be there in the room. The couple was having dinner with Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, when they received urgent communications from Matilda. When the couple realized she was in labor, they rushed to the hospital.
When they arrived, Brown stood behind his daughter and reassured her by patting her on the head. Having seen the births of all of his children, he believed he ought to be there for the birth of his grandson.
With additional grandkids now under their belt, the couple treasures any chance to spend time with them. Brown feels a great yearning when he is compelled to spend time away from his family, like he was when making a movie during COVID.
On the other hand, Brown and Ward are appreciative that everyone is well and treasure every second they spend with their family. Given the beauty of their family, many often wonder how they have managed to stay so happy and in love for such a long time. The pair answers the question with ease each time.
What Is the Secret to Ward and Brown’s Marriage?
Now that their kids are grown and their careers have slowed down, Brown and Ward can spend more time together and have less responsibilities.
Ward and Brown can fully appreciate their newfound liberty when they are riding horses. The two became passionate about horses as Brown had taken up riding whilst filming “The Thorn Birds” and Ward had been riding for his whole life.
In addition to having mounted horses in Bulgaria, Canada, and Israel, Brown and Ward have organized horseback riding trips in their native country of New Zealand.
When they’re not riding across the globe on horses, the couple enjoys cuddling up in front of the TV to watch their favorite British shows. However, their marriage is maintained by activities other than horseback riding and TV watching.
In jest, Brown talked on the factors he thought led to the length of the couple’s marriage:
The most crucial thing is to accept responsibility for your faults and to always answer “yes” to your wife. If men understood that, they’d be happy.
The pair regularly seems happy and madly in love on Ward’s Instagram profile, indicating that Brown’s idea is succeeding. Ward shared a photo of her spouse pointing at her while seated comfortably in a green space in 2019.
Jokingly stating that she was recording her husband’s centerfold for Women’s Weekly Center, she expressed her happiness that he was completely clothed. She has also published a ton of photos of herself and her hubby from significant events.
Ward like showing off Brown on social media. He once uploaded a photo of Brown with an unkempt hairstyle, an open shirt, and a semi-precious stone necklace. She remarked, “I have my complaints, but I wouldn’t change a thing.” What a gorgeous couple!