One of Aotearoa’s all-time greats, Sir Sam Neill KNZM OBE, is being honoured as the 2025 Screen Legend at this year’s New Zealand Screen Awards. The ceremony will take place on November 21 at Auckland’s Viaduct Events Centre, where Neill will be celebrated for more than five decades of world-class acting and storytelling.
From his early breakout in Sleeping Dogs to global fame as Dr Alan Grant in Jurassic Park, Neill’s career has been nothing short of iconic. He’s worked across every corner of film and television, starring in The Piano, Peaky Blinders, The Twelve, Rake, and more recently, the acclaimed documentary series Untamed.
I am very pleased and proud to be accepting this award amongst my friends and peers. I just worked it out that it’s been 53 years in film - that does indeed sound like a lifetime! Thanks to all concerned. Very honoured.
His trophy shelf already holds a BAFTA, AFI, and Logie, along with Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. But this one hits different - it’s a nod from home, from the people who’ve watched him represent New Zealand on screens big and small for generations.
Fellow legend Oscar Kightley summed it up best:
Although we use this word a lot, there are actual legends still among us. Sir Sam Neill is one of those people.
Sir Sam’s still acting, writing, and tending vines at his Two Paddocks winery in Central Otago, proving that Kiwi legends don’t fade - they just age like a bloody good Pinot.
Actor | Producer | Winemaker | Author
Sir Sam Neill is an internationally acclaimed actor, filmmaker, author and winemaker whose remarkable career has spanned more than five decades across film, television and theatre.
Renowned for his versatility, charisma, and commanding screen presence, Neill has become one of the most respected and beloved figures in global cinema.
Born in Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, Sam Neill moved with his family to New Zealand in 1954, where he was raised and educated in Christchurch. He attended Christ’s College and later graduated from the University of Canterbury with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. During his early years, Neill worked with the New Zealand National Film Unit, producing and directing documentaries before transitioning to acting.
Neill began his film career with the New Zealand television feature The City of No (1971), followed by the short film The Water Cycle (1972) and the television drama Hunt’s Duffer (1973). Demonstrating his versatility behind the camera, Neill wrote and directed Telephone Etiquette (1974) for the New Zealand National Film Unit and went on to appear in Landfall (1975).
Neill’s breakthrough came with the critically acclaimed feature Sleeping Dogs (1977), a landmark production that became the first New Zealand film to gain significant international release and recognition. He gained further recognition with the Australian film My Brilliant Career (1979), opposite Judy Davis, solidifying his reputation as a leading actor of depth and intelligence.
Throughout the 1980s, Neill built a diverse and distinguished body of work, appearing in acclaimed productions such as Omen III: The Final Conflict (1981), Possession (1981), and the television miniseries Reilly: Ace of Spies (1983), which earned him a Golden Globe nomination.
In the 1990s, Neill achieved worldwide fame for his portrayal of Dr. Alan Grant in Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park (1993), a role he would reprise in Jurassic Park III (2001) and Jurassic World: Dominion (2022). That same year, he starred in the Academy Award winning film The Piano (1993), directed by Jane Campion, further demonstrating his ability to inhabit complex, emotionally nuanced characters.
Over the years, Sam Neill has balanced major Hollywood blockbusters with independent and art-house films, earning acclaim for performances in works such as The Hunt for Red October (1990), Event Horizon (1997), The Dish (2000), Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016), and Peaky Blinders (2013–2014). His extensive television credits include Merlin (1998), The Tudors (2007–2010) and Invasion (2021).
Beyond acting, Neill is an accomplished producer and winemaker. He is the founder and proprietor of Two Paddocks, a boutique vineyard and winery located in Central Otago, celebrated for its award-winning Pinot Noir.
In recognition of his contributions to the arts and to New Zealand, Neill was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1991 and named a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2007. He accepted redesignation as a Knight Companion (KNZM) in 2022.
In 2023, Neill released his bestselling memoir, Did I Ever Tell You This?, offering candid reflections on his life, career, and personal journey.
Sir Sam Neill continues to act, write, and engage audiences around the world with his authenticity, humour, and enduring passion for storytelling. Whether on screen or among the vines at his beloved Two Paddocks vineyard, he remains a quintessential New Zealander and an enduring icon of international cinema.
Neill’s influence extends far beyond the screen. A passionate advocate for New Zealand’s creative industries and a proud supporter of local storytelling, he continues to inspire new generations of filmmakers and actors. His career embodies the spirit of Aotearoa’s screen culture creativity, authenticity, and global excellence.
