'I feared I might never see my wife again': Kevin Milne's sweet Sam Neill memory

Author: Cherie Howie ,
Publish Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2026, 12:25pm

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Former Fair Go presenter Kevin Milne (right), pictured with (from left) daughter Tommie and wife Linda, says when Linda helped Sir Sam Neill (inset) prepare for horse-riding scenes in 1979's My Brilliant Career both were so shy they were like "two 15-year-olds on a first date". Neill died in Sydney on Monday. Photos / Hagen Hopkins, supplied

Kevin Milne feared he might “never see my wife again” as she drove off in a car with Sir Sam Neill for horse-riding lessons, but the equally shy pair were instead like “two 15-year-olds on a first date”.

The former Fair Go presenter this morning shared a touching story of when his wife Linda Milne helped the future movie superstar prepare for his role in the 1979 Australian period drama My Brilliant Career.

Linda’s experience matched the contrast between the “commanding characters that the great man played and the quiet, almost shy, person he was personally”, Milne told Newstalk ZB’s Saturday Mornings with Jack Tame.

Tributes for the Kiwi star of the big screen best known for his leading role in Jurassic Park have been shared around the world since he died aged 78 of pneumonia in a Sydney hospital on Monday.

“I’ve a story that goes back to when Sam had just become a household name in New Zealand [after] he had played the lead role of Smith in Sleeping Dogs [in 1977]”, Milne told Tame.

The couple had known Neill for a year or two when he called asking if Linda could coach him on how to manage a horse on hills, as he’d just landed a role in My Brilliant Career.

Sam Neill needed to hone his horse-riding skills for a starring role in 1979 Australian period drama My Brilliant Career.

“Sam was a lad of gentle charm and exceptionally good looks. For Linda, a very shy 22-year-old, the thought of spending an afternoon on her own with the gorgeous Sam Neill freaked her a bit.

“Anyway, they head off in the car together, two gorgeous people on the journey to where Linda kept her horse. I feared I might never see my wife again.”

But Linda quickly discovered the accomplished actor whose future credits would include The Piano and Hunt for the Wilderpeople was “every bit as shy as she was”.

“As they drove along, not only was she struggling to get a sentence out to Sam, but the star of Sleeping Dogs was having equal difficulty thinking of what to say to her.

“They were like two 15-year-olds on a first date. For a long time, she says, there was awkward silence.”

A stop at the dairy helped break the ice when his wife Linda Milne, left, helped actor Sam Neill prepare a role in 1979's My Brilliant Career, says former Fair Go presenter Kevin Milne, centre. Also pictured is Tommie Milne, the youngest of Kevin and Linda Milne's four children. Photo / Hagen Hopkins

Fortunately, a shop came into view, Milne said.

“Sam broke the ice … ‘Shall we stop at the dairy and I’ll buy some Summer Rolls?’ A very sweet offer from the movie star, which Linda accepted.

“Communications must have improved enough for Linda to show Sam how to handle a horse on hills, because the following year we watched him do it up on the big screen, so strikingly, so elegantly in the highly successful My Brilliant Career.”

Cherie Howie is an Auckland-based reporter who joined the Herald in 2011. She has been a journalist for more than 20 years and specialises in general news and features.