If life had taken a different turn, it might well have been Sam Neill SC rather than Sam Neill international acting legend. The 76-year-old star once imagined himself grandstanding in a courtroom and studied a year of law at university in New Zealand.
“I’m a frustrated barrister – I would have quite enjoyed the performative aspect,” Sam explains to TV WEEK. “I’m quite good on my feet.”
Fortunately, he gets to act out those dreams on the small screen again. He says slipping back into the role of top defence lawyer Brett Colby SC for the second season of Binge’s legal drama The Twelve is like putting on a comfortable pair of shoes.
“I’m completely fond of this character – he’s complex, but a lot of fun to play,” Sam says.
This second season again revolves around a jury and a controversial murder trial. This time, it’s in the rural WA township of Tunkwell. Landowner Bernice Price (Kris McQuade) is found dead at the bottom of her well, with two ex-lovers, her daughter Sasha (Amy Mathews) and Patrick Harrows (Erroll Shand) the suspects. Colby represents Patrick, while Meredith Nelson-Moore SC (Frances O’ Connor) defends Sasha.
Turns out that Colby and Meredith have more in common than just the trial, and the pair’s illicit affair adds another layer of complexity.
Sam’s looking relaxed as he chats over Zoom. He was thrilled that a second season got the green light. And he confidently declares the intriguing twists and turns mean it’s an even better series than the acclaimed debut.
He’s also delighted to reunite with Frances. The pair worked together on 2011 film The Hunter alongside Hollywood heavyweight Willem Dafoe.
“I got to know her a lot better on this,” Sam says. “She’s such a sweetheart and is really fun to work with. We have a really complicated relationship in the show. Colby’s an old rogue, really.”
One thing Sam says he doesn’t share with his on-screen alter ego is his voracious appetite for victory. The actor isn’t remotely competitive – in fact, he disapproves of board games. And thinks Monopoly should be banned.
“It teaches that to be winning in life is about acquiring property and charging exorbitant rents – that’s terrible,” Sam shares.
Season one of The Twelve won the 2023 TV WEEK Logie Award for Most Outstanding Drama Series, Miniseries or Telemovie, with Brooke Satchwell winning Outstanding Supporting Actress and Sam taking home the coveted Silver Logie for Most Popular Actor.
He’s still flummoxed that he won a popular vote.
“I hadn’t prepared a thing to say [for an acceptance speech] – but I was very pleased to get it,” Sam says, adding when praised for showing just how well he can do on his feet.
“Look, I might have had one too many drinks. I would have done better with a little more forethought and a little less drinking. Actually, I think that’s good advice for life.”
Speaking of drinking, Sam recently shared on Instagram his frustrations at “infuriating corks” as the cork crumbled in a rather expensive bottle of wine.
He laughs as he admits it’s just one in a long list of recent domestic problems – including his washing machine playing up. Yes, he does his own washing – a fact that baffled his US screen agent.
“He said, ‘You’re Sam f**kin’ Neill – you shouldn’t be doing your own laundry,’” Sam recalls. “But it’s one thing I quite like doing, because I’m reasonably competent at it.”
What’s more than competent are the rich Australian stories that are being shared through long-form television, Sam says.
“Another one of the great dynamics [in The Twelve] is [how justice can work in] small-town murder,” he says.
“Australia is such a vast and diverse country, and the possibilities of stories are endless here. It’s terribly important to have your own stories – your own murders, even – so that we’re not just looking at comforting British murder tales or violent American murder shows.
“It’s very important that we’re telling our own stories.”
Stream The Twelve on BINGE from $10/mth, with a 7-day free trial. Subscribe now.
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