Asked late in life to name the five people he most loved working with in Hollywood, actor Sam Neill didn’t choose the biggest stars or the most decorated performers. Instead, he chose the people who made life on set better—those whose impact reached far beyond the movies themselves. lifelong career that included starring roles in some of the most successful films ever made, Neill’s answer was a reflection on friendship, character, and the quieter moments that define a working life. .
He recalled Laura Dern, best known to audiences as his Jurassic Park co-star, but remembered her not for the dinosaurs but for the conversations shared between takes and the genuine kindness she showed to everyone, regardless of their role on the production. Neill said her warmth was impossible to fake, and that every reunion between them feels as though no time has passed at all. The friendship, he said, is one of the ones that truly matters to him. Jeff Goldblum also made his list.
Neill described Goldblum as someone with a remarkable gift for lightening the mood of any room, often defusing stress on set with unexpected conversations about music, books, or other subjects entirely off topic. He noted that Goldblum never seemed to be trying to entertain anyone, but that his natural demeanor simply made people smile. Beyond remembering the character of Ian Malcolm, Neill said he carries memories of long, wandering conversations with Goldblum that made even long workdays unforgettable. Another longtime friend, Bryan Brown, earned a spot his set—not because of premieres or red carpets, but because of ordinary meals, everyday conversations, and a relationship that survived the distance that life and career often create.
Neill praised Brown’s consistency, noting that success has not changed him over the decades. As he has grown older, Neill said he has come to appreciate reliability as one of the greatest qualities a person can possess. Fourth on his list was director Steven Spielberg, someone Neill said he admired not only for talent but for character. On the set of Jurassic Park, Neill watched Spielberg lead with calmness and humility, always finding time to truly listen to actors and crew members alike.
Neill said Spielberg treated everyone with respect despite facing hundreds of decisions each day, and that the director demonstrated that the best leaders earn respect through kindness rather than demanding it individually. Finally, Neill named John Clark, a friend chosen not for fame or awards but for friendship itself. Clark possessed a quiet sense of humor, Neill recalled, and while no single conversation stands out, the collection of ordinary afternoons,overlong dinners,and unguarded moments together remains vivid. After Clark passed away, Neill said he realized that those simple moments had become some of his most treasured memories.
Reflecting on the question, Neill concluded that success is not measured by awards, blockbuster films, or magazine covers, but by the people who are genuinely happy to see you when you walk into a room. Movies will always exist, he said, but friendships are what stay with you. Laura reminds him of trust, Jeff reminds him to laugh, Bryan reminds him that true friendship survives time, Steven reminds him that kindness is leadership,and John reminds him never to take ordinary moments for granted. If he could spend one more afternoon with the five of them, he doubts they would talk much about movies.
They would likely laugh, repeat old stories,and simply enjoy one another’s company once more. That, he said, is the greatest gift his career gave him—not the films, but the people. .
