Bryan Brown hated English as a kid. One book changed everything

Bryan Brown's Journey from Disliking English to Becoming a Crime Writer

Growing up in Sydney, literature held no interest for Bryan Brown, who would later become a renowned actor and author. A long flight, however, sparked his passion for storytelling.

A Career in Film and Television

In person, Bryan Brown is exactly as expected—ruggedly handsome, charismatic, and known for his colorful language. Though he is 78, his face remains instantly recognizable from iconic roles in classics like The Thorn Birds, Breaker Morant, and Hollywood hits including Cocktail with Tom Cruise and Gorillas In The Mist with Sigourney Weaver.

Becoming an Acclaimed Author

Today, Bryan Brown is a bestselling author, not with typical Hollywood memoirs but genuine crime fiction. He debuted with Sweet Jimmy, a short story collection in 2021, followed by his first novel, The Drowning, in 2023. This month, his third book, The Hidden, is released.

Overcoming Early Dislike of Reading

“I hated English at school,” Brown admits. “Because we got things like Great Expectations to read… not when you’re bloody 12 and 14 and 16, and you want to play sport...”

He now recognizes Great Expectations as a great novel, but it didn’t appeal to him as a child.

Current Life

Brown lives in Sydney with his wife, actress and director Rachel Ward. He visited Melbourne recently for a podcast appearance, despite never having listened to a podcast before.

“I’ve never listened to a podcast, ever,” he said.

Author's summary: Bryan Brown transformed from a boy who disliked English into a celebrated actor and bestselling crime writer following a revelatory love for storytelling.

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The Age The Age — 2025-11-07

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