Sam Neill reveals details about an open Hollywood secret: his real name! At an appearance on Tuesday The Kelly Clarkson Show In this episode, the 76-year-old spoke about his decision to use his nickname Sam instead of his first name.
When Clarkson brings up the fact that Neill’s first name isn’t Sam, the New Zealand actor dryly quips: “That’s embarrassing you know.”
He explains that his parents called him Nigel, “which put me at a disadvantage from the start.” Although Clarkson says Nigel Neill seems like a strong name Jurassic Park Star explains that the name Nigel leads to cruel childhood nicknames like “Nigel No Friends.”
“When I was 10 my best friend was called Nigel Nut – which is even worse. Nigel Nut and Nigel Neill,” he remembers telling the audience. “But we liked Westerns and thought, ‘Let’s not just call ourselves Nigel, let’s give ourselves nicknames.’ So my name was Sam and his name was Bill. And that was the best decision I ever made.
“There is no film actor named Nigel Niell, that will never happen,” adds Neill.
Niell – whose full name is Sir Nigel John Dermot “Sam” Neill KNZM OBE – also spoke about his new series, Apples never fall. The actor plays Stan Delaney on the Peacock showa mysterious and possibly cheating husband and father who begins to look for his wife – played by the Incomparable Annette Bening – is missing. Apples never fall is adapted from Big little lies And Nine perfect strangers The bestselling novel of the same name by author Liane Moriarty.
The role – and the series in general – revolves heavily around the fictional Delaney family’s commitment to the sport of tennis, as both Bening, 65, and Neill play former tennis pros who raised four great athletes who had the skills ( but didn’t have the drive or desire) to follow in their parents’ footsteps. Throughout the show, viewers watch as Stan falls under the suspicion of his friends, community members, and even his four adult children.
Niell previously told ET Fighting stage 3 angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphomaHe discovered that not only is he lucky to be alive, but also that his acting gets better with time.
“Listen, I’ve been in remission for two years now and I feel great,” he said. He added that a second wind had reinvigorated him as his cancer remains at bay. “I only get better as I get older.”
While Neill said he found the role of Stan exciting, he couldn’t be further from his character in real life. For Neill, Stan – a gruff “alpha guy” – was a complicated character and a challenge for the actor.
“Well, him [Stan] “He’s an alpha male, which is typically the type of person I avoid in the world.”
But the actor said it was the wide range of differences that drew him to the job in the first place, seeing it as “more challenging and fun.”
“In a way, I respect Stan Delaney,” he said. “Stan has a depth to him that I appreciate.”
Filling out the cast is The White Lotus‘ Jake Lacy, Community‘S Alison BrieConor Merrigan-Turner, Essie Randles, Georgia Flood, Jeanine Serralles and Dylan Thuraisingham.
Apples never fall can be streamed on Peacock.
RELATED CONTENT: