Sir Sam Neill, with Governor General of NZ, Dame Cindy Kiro, at Government House in Auckland, NZ on 11th October, 2022 after his investiture as a knight in recognition of his "outstanding contribution to film".

Sir Sam Neill, speaking at the 2022 Arts Foundation Icon Whakamana Hiranga Awards, at Government House in Wellington, NZ on 14 December 2022

On September 14 1947 New Zealand actor & winemaker Sam Neill was born. His birth name is Nigel John Dermot Neill. He was born in Northern Ireland, in Omagh, County Tyrone, the second son of Dermot Neill, a Harrow- and Sandhurst-educated British Army officer and third-generation New Zealander, and his English wife, Priscilla Beatrice. In 1954, Neill returned with his family to New Zealand, where he attended the Anglican boys' boarding school Christ's College in Christchurch. He then went on to study English literature at the University of Canterbury. Sam Neill started work at the National Film Unit (NFU) before embarking on a successful acting career. He joined the NFU on January 31 1972 as a Production Trainee. He was promoted to Production Assistant in 1974 before becoming a Film Director in 1977. He left the Film Unit sometime before March 1979 (Information gathered from Public Service lists held in Wellington Reading Room of Archives New Zealand). The National Film Unit was established to publicise New Zealand's participation and achievements during the Second World War. After 1945 the NFU expanded from producing weekly newsreels to making documentaries and films to the order of Government Departments. During its existence the NFU produced films for national organisations as well as many films on its own initiative. The private film industry in New Zealand relied heavily on the National Film Unit's extensive film processing facilities. Sam’s first film was Landfall – A Film About Ourselves produced by the National Film Unit. These stills are from the original 35mm stills held by Archives New Zealand. He later went on to achieve huge success with Hollywood blockbusters such as Jurassic Park. He also runs a vineyard in Queenstown called Two Paddocks - www.twopaddocks.com/ His full filmography can be found here: www.imdb.com/name/nm0000554/ Reference: AAPG W3939 Box 28 archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=24290091 For more information email Research.Archives@dia.govt.nz For updates on our On This Day series and news from Archives New Zealand, follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/ArchivesNZ

At the premiere of "Daybreakers", directed by Michael and Peter Spierig, during the Toronto International Film Festival, 2009.

Whetu Fala (Shortland Street) and Sam Neill

Sam Neill and I at the 2010 Vancouver International Wine Festival

On September 14 1947 New Zealand actor & winemaker Sam Neill was born. His birth name is Nigel John Dermot Neill. He was born in Northern Ireland, in Omagh, County Tyrone, the second son of Dermot Neill, a Harrow- and Sandhurst-educated British Army officer and third-generation New Zealander, and his English wife, Priscilla Beatrice. In 1954, Neill returned with his family to New Zealand, where he attended the Anglican boys' boarding school Christ's College in Christchurch. He then went on to study English literature at the University of Canterbury. Sam Neill started work at the National Film Unit (NFU) before embarking on a successful acting career. He joined the NFU on January 31 1972 as a Production Trainee. He was promoted to Production Assistant in 1974 before becoming a Film Director in 1977. He left the Film Unit sometime before March 1979 (Information gathered from Public Service lists held in Wellington Reading Room of Archives New Zealand). The National Film Unit was established to publicise New Zealand's participation and achievements during the Second World War. After 1945 the NFU expanded from producing weekly newsreels to making documentaries and films to the order of Government Departments. During its existence the NFU produced films for national organisations as well as many films on its own initiative. The private film industry in New Zealand relied heavily on the National Film Unit's extensive film processing facilities. Sam’s first film was Landfall – A Film About Ourselves produced by the National Film Unit. These stills are from the original 35mm stills held by Archives New Zealand. He later went on to achieve huge success with Hollywood blockbusters such as Jurassic Park. He also runs a vineyard in Queenstown called Two Paddocks - www.twopaddocks.com/ His full filmography can be found here: www.imdb.com/name/nm0000554/ Reference: AAPG W3939 Box 28 archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=24290091 For more information email Research.Archives@dia.govt.nz For updates on our On This Day series and news from Archives New Zealand, follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/ArchivesNZ

On September 14 1947 New Zealand actor & winemaker Sam Neill was born. His birth name is Nigel John Dermot Neill. He was born in Northern Ireland, in Omagh, County Tyrone, the second son of Dermot Neill, a Harrow- and Sandhurst-educated British Army officer and third-generation New Zealander, and his English wife, Priscilla Beatrice. In 1954, Neill returned with his family to New Zealand, where he attended the Anglican boys' boarding school Christ's College in Christchurch. He then went on to study English literature at the University of Canterbury. Sam Neill started work at the National Film Unit (NFU) before embarking on a successful acting career. He joined the NFU on January 31 1972 as a Production Trainee. He was promoted to Production Assistant in 1974 before becoming a Film Director in 1977. He left the Film Unit sometime before March 1979 (Information gathered from Public Service lists held in Wellington Reading Room of Archives New Zealand). The National Film Unit was established to publicise New Zealand's participation and achievements during the Second World War. After 1945 the NFU expanded from producing weekly newsreels to making documentaries and films to the order of Government Departments. During its existence the NFU produced films for national organisations as well as many films on its own initiative. The private film industry in New Zealand relied heavily on the National Film Unit's extensive film processing facilities. Sam’s first film was Landfall – A Film About Ourselves produced by the National Film Unit. He later went on to achieve huge success with Hollywood blockbusters such as Jurassic Park. He also runs a vineyard in Queenstown called Two Paddocks - www.twopaddocks.com/ His full filmography can be found here: www.imdb.com/name/nm0000554/ Reference: AAPG W3939 Box 28 <a archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=24291725 For more information email Research.Archives@dia.govt.nz For updates on our On This Day series and news from Archives New Zealand, follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/ArchivesNZ

Sam Neill and I at the 2010 Vancouver International Wine Festival

At the premiere of "Daybreakers", directed by Michael and Peter Spierig, during the Toronto International Film Festival, 2009.