90s Hollywood legend reveals ’embarrassment’ over real first name | RA5Z22I | 2024-05-01 21:08:01
90s Hollywood legend reveals 'embarrassment' over real first name | RA5Z22I | 2024-05-01 21:08:01
Sam Neill has shared the 'embarrassing' truth about his real identity, after being born with another name.
The actor, 76, has been in the spotlight for decades, thanks to stints in the Jurassic Park franchise, the Zookeeper, the Hunt for Red October and Peaky Blinders.
He appeared on the Kelly Clarkson show to promote his new series, Apples Never Fall, when talk turned to his decision to change his name from 'Nigel John Dermot Neill'.
'I didn't realize that your real name isn't even Sam,' the host began, as he quickly replied: 'That's embarrassing that you know that.
'I was christened Nigel Neill – that's like my parents giving me a disadvantage from the start.'
Kelly suggested that the moniker was 'strong', but her guest disagreed, suggesting that he received some childhood ribbing as a result.
'No, you never want to be called Nigel,' he insisted. 'It's also called "Nigel No Mates," you know, "Nigel No Friends,"
'When I was 10, my best friend was called Nigel Nut – which is even worse – and I was Nigel Neill.
'We liked Westerns, and we thought, "Let's not just call ourselves Nigel, let's have nickname." So I was called Sam and he was called Bill, and that was the best decision I ever made.
'There are no film actors called Nigel Neill, that's never going to happen.'
Sam was born in Northern Ireland but moved to New Zealand as a child, around the same time he decided to change his name.
He previously unpacked the decision in his 2023 memoir, Did I Ever Tell You This?, explaining that he wanted to avoid confusion with the aforementioned Nigel Nut – as well as steering clear of childhood bullying.
'The one thing I resent about my parents, the only thing, is that they called me Nigel,' he wrote, via the Daily Mail.
'Changing my name to Sam at the age of 11 was probably the best decision I made in my life.'
While promoting his book, Sam revealed that he had been diagnosed with stage three blood cancer – after experiencing swollen glands during publicity for Jurassic World Dominion the previous March.
Sharing an update on his health in October, the Hollywood legend explained that he was taking an experimental new drug after being diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma.
Neill said the drug has been working and keeping him in remission for the past 12 months after chemotherapy had failed to work – but he had been told by doctors that it will eventually also stop being effective.
'I'm not in any way frightened of dying. That doesn't worry me. It's never worried me from the beginning, but I would be annoyed,' he told Australian Story.
'I'd be annoyed because there are things I still want to do. Very irritating, dying. But I'm not afraid of it.'
</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> After fans voiced their concern that the drug would stop working, Sam uploaded a video on social media to calm their fears.
'I made a passing remark that the treatment I'm on, which has me in remission, will inevitably fail one day,' he added. 'It's nothing to worry about. I'm in remission and plan to be in remission for many years to come.
'At such time as it does fail, we'll try something else. There are all sorts of things that are happening with cancer these days. It's a whole new ball game.
'So please stop worrying, I'm getting a lot of messages on social media and from friends. Sorry to worry everybody – it's all good, it's all fine. It's a beautiful day, I'm off to work.'
Got a story?
If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
More >> https://ift.tt/vJ95Uqm Source: MAG NEWS
No comments: