How One Book Turned Bryan Brown from English Hater to Bestselling Author
Bryan Brown, the legendary Australian actor known for his rugged charm and sharp wit, has added another feather to his cap — bestselling crime novelist. But what’s truly fascinating is that the man who now writes gripping stories once absolutely hated English in school. He admits he couldn’t stand reading classics like Great Expectations when all he really wanted to do was play sport. “I hated English at school. Hated it!” he says, laughing about it now.
Growing up in working-class Bankstown, Sydney, English just didn’t feel relevant to Brown’s world. He was clever enough to pass exams, but books never captured his imagination. Maths was his thing — he even started his career as an actuary at AMP. But after a few years, he realized the job was, in his words, “boring as batshit.” The lively salesmen seemed to have all the fun, so he decided to give that a go. His mum, Molly, might’ve been taken aback — especially since his father had been a salesman too — but she never discouraged him.
Everything changed when Brown stumbled upon acting through his company’s little theatre club. That spark led him to chase a dream all the way to England. Before boarding the plane, he decided to pick up a book — Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown. It was a random choice, but it turned out to be life-changing. “Fabulous book,” he recalls. “That started me on reading.” For the first time, stories grabbed him. That one decision opened up a love of literature he never saw coming.
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Fast-forward to now, Bryan Brown has not only conquered screens in classics like The Thorn Birds , Breaker Morant , and Cocktail alongside Tom Cruise, but he’s also made his mark as a serious author. His first book, Sweet Jimmy , a collection of short crime stories, came out in 2021 and received glowing reviews. Then came The Drowning in 2023, and now his third — The Hidden — has just been released.
The Hidden dives deep into the secrets of a small coastal town — full of flawed characters, dark secrets, and unexpected twists. Brown’s storytelling style mirrors his personality: direct, raw, and full of bite. He says he doesn’t plan his books too rigidly — he just lets the story unfold naturally. “I just start with a character and see where they go,” he explains.
What’s even more striking is that at 78, Brown is still full of energy. Between writing, promoting his new book, and starring in his latest film The Travellers , retirement doesn’t seem to be in his vocabulary. He’s still surfing, still creating, and still telling stories — just as he’s always done.
Looking back, it’s poetic that the man who once hated English is now inspiring others with his words. All it took was one flight, one book, and a bit of curiosity to uncover the storyteller hidden inside Bryan Brown.
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