Following a promising career in show industry, Rachel Ward appeared to vanish from the public eye.
Rather than pursuing celebrity, she concentrated on her 39-year marriage to Bryan Brown and their expanding family.
She is devoted to her two grandkids, who she now has.
About the same time that Rachel Ward met Bryan Brown, she was listed as one of the ten most beautiful women in the world. She was a rising star who had been nominated for a Golden Globe and appeared on the cover of UK Vogue.
Richard Chamberlain, her co-star in “The Thorn Birds,” was enamored with the stunning actress. Speaking about their time together on set, he remarked that because of his stunning co-star, all the love scenes were a pleasure to perform. She was in love with someone else, though, even as he was falling for her.
At one point, Chamberlain disclosed that Ward was falling in love with Brown at the time, indicating that she was a romantic, but regrettably not for him. Despite this, Chamberlain claimed that Ward’s enthusiasm was infectious, primarily due to the fact that they portrayed a couple in love.
He went so far as to say that it was easy to accept that Ward was in love with him and no one else. “I assumed I was the one! It was amazing. God, he used to think, ‘She’s really into me.
According to Ward, there was a strong attraction between her and Brown. “His pecs were nice.” It is, after all, quite chemical, don’t you think? She talked about what made her fall in love at first, saying, “It’s pretty basic.” In all honesty, there was no other way to explain her feelings—she simply liked him.
Brown, meanwhile, immediately concluded that Ward was “not a bad sort.” He was attracted to her right away, but it took him a while to express his interest in her. For Ward, however, this was no big thing because, according to Brown, it was a challenge she was eager to take on until he eventually changed.
It was obvious once Ward made up his mind about him: the 35-year-old ladies’ man, who was, to be honest, just a man averse to commitment, was done playing games. It was now time for him to be married, if not to the stunning Rachel Ward.
Despite coming from a shattered home, Brown never thought he would get married, but in nine months, he and Ward were married. Before Ward entered his life, he used to assure his mother that he would never get married.
Ward and Brown were married under different circumstances, despite the fact that many people decide to get married after discovering they have everything they could possibly need and want in a spouse. Brown was filming a project with Paul McCartney in London at the time. When Ward arrived, they got into a heated dispute.
Brown said, “I just thought we may as well get married if we’re going to argue like that.” In Oxfordshire, the home of Ward’s boyhood, they were married that year. After a while, they made Sydney their home, raising Rose, Matilda, and James, their three children.
Selecting an Alternative Course
Ward was the star of numerous songs prior to “The Thorn Birds.” Although her 1983 mini-TV series with Chamberlain was well-received, she eventually gave up acting due to scathing criticism of her performance. Speaking on her personal experience, she acknowledged:
“I took being slaughtered very seriously. After that, I never really regained my confidence.
Ward’s career was impacted by “The Thorn Birds,” but in the end, it helped her find the love of her life. As they waited for a take one day, Brown instructed Ward to raise her hand. When he saw three lines in her hand during his palm reading, he concluded that she would give birth to three children. They had no idea that they would end up having three children together.
Ward kept acting, but not very often. She made the decision to put her family first and relocated to her husband’s home country of Australia.
In response to a question concerning advice on preserving marriage, Brown says that one should “say yes to your wife all the time, and if anything goes wrong, say ‘it’s my fault.’” Men would be happier if they knew that.
Together, the charming couple had three children who all follow in their footsteps: The most well-known roles for their 1987-born daughter Matilda are in the television series “Lessons from the Grave,” “How God Works,” and “Let’s Talk About.” Their daughter Rosie is well-known for “Black Mirror,” “Inside No. 9,” and “Gangs of London,” while their only son Joe is well-known for “Let’s Talk About” and “Rake.”
Brown acted in the family-friendly film “Palm Beach,” directed by Ward, with his daughter Matilda. The family completed the project collectively.
When Matilda, Ward and Brown’s daughter, gave birth to Zan Neathway Gooding, her first boy, in 2019, the couple became grandparents for the first time. Brown remained by her daughter’s side, eager to eventually hold his grandson in his arms.
The actor did not sure how to react to being referred to as “grandfather,” even if he was a devoted grandfather, since it seemed to reveal his age. But whether he liked it or not, he had to admit that he would always be referred to as “grandpa.”
At first, Brown was concerned about becoming a grandfather because a lot of people were assuming he would adore it. When his grandchild arrived, he quickly became attached to the young boy and wanted to spend as much time as possible with him. He had wanted to work through that portion on his own.
Following the birth of her son, Matilda married Scott Gooding, formally becoming his adolescent son’s stepmother. They had originally planned to wed on Brown and Ward’s land in New South Wales, but they had to postpone their wedding due to the fear of a wildfire.
The family was forced to evacuate after the bushfires threatened to destroy their house. Although they would have preferred to wed at home like her parents did, Matilda decided to get married in Sydney to make sure everyone was safe.
Gooding’s kid was very involved in the wedding. With a broad smile on his face, he stood behind his father during the ceremony. According to the renowned chef, the wedding was “possibly the best moment” of his life, therefore it was the perfect unforgettable occasion.
Matilda is a happy mother of two now that he has had her younger siblings taken care of. Gooding posted a cute picture of his son strolling and pulling the pram of his younger siblings.
Similar to how Ward and Brown remain involved in their children’s life, they also make an effort to spend as much time as they can with their grandchildren. The devoted grandparents post glimpses of their grandparenting on Instagram, where they participate in a variety of activities.
Ward is seen gardening with her oldest grandson Zan in one cute video. In their herb garden, they can be seen sprinkling sugar cane mulch. Gooding boasts that his mother-in-law is “nurturing” her grandkids in the same manner that she strives to take care of the surroundings.
Zan spends time with their farm’s horses when he and his grandmother, whom he refers to as “mopie,” aren’t in the garden. They also spent a Christmas at the family farm, where the devoted grandma raised her first grandchild by exposing him to the animals at a young age to help him become accustomed to them.
Anouk, her second grandchild, arrived, and Ward made sure to spend equal time with him. One day, Gooding took pictures of Ward walking with her daughter Matilda and her second grandson, capturing the precious moment.
When their daughter Rosie became engaged to her fiance Andrew Cameron in 2020, their family grew even more. The start of a stunning partnership was marked by their Instagram engagement announcement.
After a span of two years, Rosie and Andrew joyfully relocated to a stunning new residence in New South Wales. Surrounded by a forest, waterfalls, and an abundance of avocado trees, the property has a modest house.
All of their neighbors stopped by to give the gorgeous couple a warm welcome when they arrived in the neighborhood. They declare they intend to stay awhile and claim to have everything they could possibly need in the town.
Cameron is an Australian regenerative farmer who shares Ward’s enthusiasm for the practice. He was a perfect fit for the rest of the Brown family, which made it simple for everyone to get along and share interests.
Ward and Brown have raised their family admirably throughout it all. Despite the fact that their children have grown, they maintain a close relationship and try to spend as much time as possible with their in-laws. The Browns, Goodings, and Camerons were a joyful family celebrating Christmas together in 2021.
Ward claims that at that point in her life, she most likely would have been married to a third husband if she had married an American and moved to Hollywood.
Ward and Brown are enjoying a successful marriage and their children are all grown up and independent. Ward acknowledges that she thinks there’s more to life than her marriage and her family life, even after 39 years of marriage and counting. Says she:
“While my family and marriage are very important to me, they are also not the end all be all.” I want to pursue a profession in acting because I adore it.
Ward has all the connections necessary to maintain her presence in Hollywood, even if she has spent the years living in Australia. As a matter of fact, she has been making the trip to Hollywood on demand for years.
Ward claims that even though it could have been more practical for her to live in America for her career, she most likely would have been married to her third husband by then if she had married an American and moved to Hollywood.
Rather, she is in a committed relationship with the passion of her life and has complete control over her house and family. When she’s not working on a project, the actress frequently shares with her kids what she does with pride.
One day, while painting her house over several days, her daughter Rosie captured her elevating a glass and the ladder she needed to do the job. Instagram users agreed with the happy daughter’s goal of showcasing what an amazing mother Ward was.
Ward shares more on her Instagram than only her abilities and priceless family moments—her sense of humor. She corrected misinformation regarding her activities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
She reported the following facts: (1) she hadn’t visited the US in more than five years; (2) she didn’t have a personal trainer; (3) she had spent the previous ten days at the mid-north coast; and (5) she lacked COVID-19. “Take a swing at another witch,” she concluded her amusing message.
Ward works on her farm while Brown is filming “Darby and Joan” on television. Together with other things, they are the owners of The Good Farm Shop, which offers ready-made, organic meals.
‘That’s for Mommy’s Friend’: Little Girl’s Reveal Almost Cost Me My Job—Story of the Day
I worked as a nanny. My little Thea was my sunshine, making my days fly by. One afternoon, she found a man’s wallet full of cash under her bed. I took it to Thea’s father, but he said it wasn’t his. “It’s for Mommy’s friend!” That phrase nearly cost me my job later on.
I had been working in Max’s household for a few weeks, and the routine had become second nature. I would wake up early each morning to prepare breakfast for 6-year-old Thea.
The kitchen was always filled with the warm aroma of pancakes and freshly squeezed orange juice. We often cooked together.
“Good morning, sunshine!”
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I greeted Thea one morning as the little girl shuffled into the kitchen.
Her eyes were still heavy with sleep.
“Good morning, Anna.”
She climbed onto a stool at the kitchen island. I set a plate of pancakes in front of her.
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“Do you want blueberries or strawberries today?”
“Blueberries, please.”
As I watched Thea eat, I thought about my huge love for this little girl.
“You’re my little blueberry, you know that?”
Thea giggled. “I know.”
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After breakfast, I helped Thea get ready for school.
“Hold still, Thea, I need to get this braid just right.”
“Okay, but can you make it like Elsa’s braid today?”
“Of course, Elsa it is,” I replied, carefully braiding Thea’s curly blonde hair. I tied the end of the braid with a ribbon.
“You look beautiful, Thea.”
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“Thank you, Anna. You always make my hair so pretty,” Thea replied, giving me a big hug.
I had always wanted children of my own but had discovered a few years ago that I couldn’t have any. I loved the girl as if she were my daughter, pouring all my maternal affection into our relationship.
After dropping Thea off at school, I returned home to take care of the household chores.
Veronica, Max’s wife, rarely acknowledged my efforts. She was always busy with her daily pleasures.
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Not even a thank you. But it’s okay. I’m here for Thea.
In the evening, I picked Thea up from school, and we would head back home for dinner. I always made sure Thea had her favorite meals.
“Do you want spaghetti or chicken tonight?”
“Spaghetti!”
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Max, who was constantly busy with work, would join us whenever he could.
“You’re doing a wonderful job, Anna. Thea seems so happy,” he said that evening.
Despite his demanding schedule, he always tried to spend his free moments with his daughter. Thea was his only child from his first marriage, and Veronica didn’t want to have any children of her own.
So, Max poured all his affection and care into Thea and was deeply grateful to me for my dedication and genuine love for his little girl.
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“Thank you, Max. Thea is a special girl. She deserves all the love and attention,” I replied, glancing over at Thea, who was engrossed in a puzzle on the floor.
However, despite the happy moments, I couldn’t ignore the tension that Veronica brought into the household. She spent most of her time away and showed little interest in Thea.
That night, as I tucked Thea into bed.
“Why doesn’t Mommy love me, Anna?”
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My heart broke at the question.
“Oh, sweetheart, you are so loved. I love you very much, and so does your daddy. Sometimes, people don’t show their love in the same way, but that doesn’t mean you’re not special.”
Thea hugged me tightly. “I love you too, Anna.”
I knew my love and support could make a real difference, and I was determined to give Thea the best childhood possible.
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***
One sunny afternoon, Thea and I were playing in the nursery. The room was filled with toys, colorful drawings on the walls, and the soft hum of children’s music playing in the background.
Thea was busy pretending her dolls were having a tea party.
“Anna, can you pour the tea for Daisy?”
“Of course, Daisy,” I replied, carefully pretending to pour invisible tea into a tiny cup.
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As we played, Thea crawled under the bed to retrieve a toy she had dropped.
“Anna, look what I found!”
She emerged holding a man’s wallet.
“Hmm, let’s see what’s inside.”
The wallet was filled with cash! No cards no ID. Just cash.
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This must belong to Max. We should return it to him.
I held Thea’s hand, and we walked downstairs to Max’s home office. He was at his desk, surrounded by papers and his laptop.
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“Max, we found this wallet in Thea’s nursery,” I said, holding it out to him.
“This isn’t mine.”
Just then, Thea, who had been looking around curiously, piped up, “Oh, that’s a toy! That’s for Mommy’s Friend!”
Max and I exchanged a surprised glance.
Before we could say anything, Veronica walked in. She noticed the wallet in Max’s hand and immediately narrowed her eyes.
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“What’s going on here?”
“We found this wallet in Thea’s nursery. Thea said it belongs to one of your friends.”
Veronica’s eyes flashed.
“That’s ridiculous! Anna, you must have taken this from one of the workers!”
“I would never…” I began, but Max interrupted.
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“Veronica, that’s enough. Anna is always with Thea. She wouldn’t do something like that.”
Veronica’s face twisted with anger.
Max continued, “I trust Anna. This is a misunderstanding.”
Veronica huffed, “How can you be so sure? You barely know her!”
Max stood his ground.
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“I know enough to trust her. And I trust Thea’s word too. If she says it’s a toy, then it’s a toy.”
Veronica glared at me, but I held my head high. I had nothing to hide.
Veronica shot me one last icy look before storming out of the room.
As she passed by me, she leaned in and whispered, “You’re finished.”
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Max turned to me. “I’m sorry about that, Anna. Veronica can be… difficult.”
“It’s alright, Max. I understand.”
As Thea and I left the office, I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease. Veronica’s reaction was harsh and unfounded.
Why is she so eager to accuse me?
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***
The following afternoon, Veronica called me into the living room. She was sitting elegantly on the sofa, watching me carefully.
“Anna, I was thinking of taking Thea out for a walk this afternoon. Why don’t you stay here and prepare dinner?”
I hesitated for a moment, but couldn’t find a reason to object.
“Sure, Veronica,” I replied, trying to sound cheerful.
“Great. Thea loves the playground, so we’ll be there if you need us.”
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I headed to the kitchen, watching from the window as Veronica and Thea walked down the path to the playground. I busied myself with chopping vegetables.
“It’s just a walk,” I told myself. “Everything will be fine.”
Half an hour later, I heard the front door open and close.
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Max’s voice echoed through the house, “I’m home!”
I wiped my hands on a towel and walked out to greet him.
“Hi, Max. How was your day?”
“Busy as always,” he replied, glancing around. “Where’s Thea?”
“Veronica took her to the playground. They should be back soon.”
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“The playground? By themselves?”
Without waiting for a response, he grabbed his coat and headed out the door.
I stood there, a sinking feeling in my stomach.
“Please let everything be alright,” I whispered.
It felt like an eternity before Max returned, holding a very upset Thea by the hand. Her clothes were dirty, and she had a scrape on her knee.
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“Max, what happened?” I asked, rushing over.
Max’s face was a storm of anger.
“I found Thea playing alone at the playground. Veronica was nowhere in sight!”
“I didn’t know, Max. I swear I thought Veronica was with her the whole time.”
Veronica was listening to our conversation at the doorway.
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“Max, I just went to the store for a minute. I was sure Thea’s playing with Anna.”
Max turned to me, his anger misdirected.
“Anna, you should have been with her. This is unacceptable.”
“But, Max…” I started, but he cut me off.
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“No excuses, Anna. Pack your things. You’re fired.”
Tears filled my eyes as I nodded, too shocked to argue. I headed upstairs to pack.
This can’t be happening. How did everything go so wrong?
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***
As I walked down the stairs with my suitcase, Veronica stood in the hallway, a smug look on her face.
She had orchestrated this whole thing, and I had fallen right into her trap. I kept walking, trying to ignore the satisfaction in her eyes.
I saw Thea running towards me, tears streaming down her face. “Anna, please don’t go! Please!”
I knelt to her level, my own eyes filling with tears.
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“I don’t want to leave either, Thea, but I have to.”
Thea turned to her father, who was standing in the doorway.
“Daddy, please let Anna stay! Veronica never plays with me. She’s always with her friend when you’re not here. I want to stay with Anna!”
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Max frowned. “What do you mean, sweetheart?”
Thea wiped her eyes.
“Veronica has a friend who comes over a lot. They play in her room while I watch cartoons. She even has pictures of him on her phone.”
Max’s face darkened. “Is this true, Thea?”
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“Yes, Daddy. Yesterday at the playground, Veronica left me alone while she went to talk to him.”
Max looked stunned. He turned to Veronica, who had just walked in. “Veronica, is this true?”
Veronica’s face twisted with anger. “This is ridiculous! She’s just a child. What does she know?”
“Thea wouldn’t lie about this. Why didn’t you tell me about this ‘friend’?”
Veronica lost her temper.
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“Because you’re never around, Max! You’re always at work. I have no life, no one to talk to. And you spend all your free time with Thea, ignoring me completely!”
“That doesn’t justify your actions. You put Thea in danger and lied to me.”
Veronica glared at me. “This is all your fault, Anna. You turned them against me.”
I was trying to stay calm. “Veronica, all I’ve ever wanted is to take care of Thea. She needs love and attention.”
Max raised his hand.
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“I’ve heard enough. Your actions are unjustifiable, Veronica. You put Thea in danger, and I can’t forgive that. You should leave.”
Veronica looked shocked.
“You’re kicking me out? For her?”
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She stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her. I held Thea close as she sobbed into my shoulder. Max approached us, his eyes softening.
“Anna, I’m so sorry. I didn’t see what was happening. Please, stay and help us through this.”
“Of course, Max. I’ll always be here for Thea.”
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***
In the days that followed, I stayed on as Thea’s nanny. Max began to spend more time with his daughter.
We spent our days playing games, having picnics in the garden, and enjoying family dinners. It felt like we were becoming a real family.
Sometimes, as I watched Max and Thea together, I couldn’t help but imagine what it would be like if we truly were one. Those thoughts crept into my mind more often than I’d like to admit.
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One evening, as I was tucking Thea into bed, Max knocked on the doorframe.
“Anna, can I talk to you for a moment?”
“Of course, Max,” I said, giving Thea a final kiss on the forehead before stepping out into the hallway.
Max looked a bit nervous, which was unusual for him.
“I was wondering if you’d like to have dinner with me tomorrow. Just the two of us.”
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“Are you asking me out on a date?”
“Yes, I am. We’ve been through a lot, and I’d like to spend some time with you outside of the house.”
I agreed, feeling a flutter of excitement. As I headed to my room to prepare for the next day, I couldn’t help but smile.
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