Sam Neill rushed writing his new memoir because he didn’t know how long he had left after being diagnosed with stage-three cancer.
The Jurassic park legend, 75, battled the serious illness in private, but opened up about it in his memoir Did I Ever Tell You This?
Luckily, he has been in remission for eight months, but admitted on The Project that the frightening diagnosis led to him writing his book quickly as he feared he was going to die.
‘I did write it in a hurry because i didn’t quite know how long I was going to live,’ he said on the Friday night show.
‘So I would wake up in the morning and say I’ve got to get that chapter done because I’ve been thinking about it all night
Sam Neill (pictured) said he wrote his new memoir ‘in a hurry’ because he didn’t know how long he had left after being diagnosed with stage-three cancer
‘But, I think as a result it has a sort of spontaneity it wouldn’t have had otherwise, and maybe there are more things I should’ve thought through more!’
The New Zealand-born actor said he was shocked at the outpouring of support he received after opening up about his diagnosis.
‘It was very surprising, I thought it was pretty common-or-garden cancer… but there has been such warmth and love and support from all over the place and I cant tell you how much it means to me, it’s been absolutely fantastic,’ he said.
The Jurassic park legend, 75, battled the serious illness in private, but opened up about it in his memoir Did I Ever Tell You This?
The actor, who features in the new Stan original film The Portable Door, added that he feels the best he ever has, and is excited to be back working.
‘I didn’t really expect [the outpouring of support] but I cannot tell you how great it’s been, but I am in remission,’ he said.
‘I have been in remission for eight months and I have never felt better and I start shooting a new job on Monday, and things are looking really good.’
In his new film The Portable Door, Sam stars alongside Oscar award-winning Christoph Waltz, Patrick Gibson and Sophie Wilde.
Patrick, who plays the main character of the film Paul Carpenter, said he had no idea that Sam, who he looked up to as an actor from a young age, was diagnosed with stage-three cancer.
Sam has been in remission for eight months, but admitted on The Project that the scary diagnosis led to him writing his book quickly as he feared he was going to die
Speaking to Daily Mail Australia at The Portable Door premier in Sydney’s Entertainment Quarter on Thursday, the Irish actor added that he didn’t know about Sam’s diagnosis or his remission as he hasn’t seen him since filming wrapped.
But, he said hopes to catch up with him and wish him well after the premiere.
The 27-year-old said acting alongside a legend such as Sam was ‘mad’ and that he was a pleasure to work with.
The actor, who features in the new Stan original film The Portable Door, added that he feels the best he ever has, and is excited to be back working
‘It was mad, I was really nervous to come to set acting opposite these guys [Sam Neill and Christoph Waltz] who I’ve watched since I was a kid,’ he said.
‘But it couldn’t have been a lovelier experience, they are some of the best people, they are so sweet and so supportive.’
Sophie Wilde, who plays an intern of the same name in the fantasy film, said it was also a shock to hear that Sam recently battled blood cancer.
She added: ‘Sam is such a beautiful beautiful person and soul and what is amazing about him is he really took me under his wing and he is such a generous scene partner, big, big love.’
Patrick Gibson (pictured) who plays the main character of the film Paul Carpenter, said he had no idea that Sam was diagnosed with stage-three cancer
This post first appeared on Daily mail
