The everyman

SAM NEILL IS the master of acting without drawing attention to himself. Over a career spanning almost 50 years, the Kiwi actor has quietly built one of the most impressive careers around, his versatility standing him in good stead. From grumpy dinosaur experts to deranged doctors, he can pretty much play anything. We asked him about some of his signature roles and scenes.

MY BRILLIANT CAREER (1979)

Neill’s big break — the start of his brilliant career, you could say — came as Judy Davis’s lovelorn suitor in a Gillian Armstrong-directed drama

“I was very.”