Sam Neill about working and depression

Jul 14, 2026 4:44 PM

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As someone 10 months into what's likely retirement, the advice to separate your identity from what you do/did and who you are is very good advice.

2 months ago | Likes 13 Dislikes 0

Wow. Sam Neill had imposter syndrome? Jesus. No wonder us mere mortals struggle with it.

2 months ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

"If you're working on something enjoyable, the darkness goes away."
Keyword: Enjoyable. If your job is shit, the darkness stays. If only we could all do something for a living that we really enjoy.

2 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

As awful as Dominion was, I'm glad we got to see the original Jurassic Park team together one last time.

2 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

2 months ago | Likes 13 Dislikes 0

Love the barefoot interview - it just adds to the wisdom

2 months ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Very well said – you should separate yourself from your profession, “that’s not what I am; that’s what I do.” As someone who has pursued entertainment ventures in my adult life, I finally realized I was doing it because I needed external validation – to an inordinate extent. I’ve been focusing on feeling better about myself as I am. It’s very different than the self-concept I’ve had for the last few decades, where applause, and positive reviews were life blood. That was not a healthy situation.

2 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Lot's of people mention Jurassic Park, personally my favourite is Hunt for the Wilderpeople: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4698684/

2 months ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Sam at his most Kiwi

2 months ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Academy, Emmys, BAFTA, Golden Globe, and SAG award winner Allison Janney was told by an agent early on the only roles she'd get (because she's tall) would be aliens or lesbians. The amount of rejections actors get must take a toll. I mean I've been applying for IT jobs lately and wow, but really showing up and giving something your all and have someone say, you're not 'blank' enough must really hurt.

2 months ago | Likes 20 Dislikes 0

That gives added context to the episode in The West Wing where she gets rather rudely asked about her sexuality, war games a whole well thought through reply and instead on the spot just goes full scorched earth response. It was a great scene.

2 months ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

im a sr customer facing engineer, was out of a job for almost 2 years becasue I 'wasnt quite' one way or another. I was low-balled multiple times, gaslit attempts by recruiters and bad small business trying to take advantage right now. Bet on yourself. I did, and it paid the fuck off.

2 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Loads of actors of note have stories about the one agent or producer or director or any number of other people who told them they were talentless and wasting their time. As brutal as the audition process is it can offer a bit of comfort when there's twenty of them in a waiting room but only one role is being offered. Rejection hinges on many things and it is a tough skin needed to weather it.

2 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Great. A reminder that most, or many, of us are not hugely successful. From someone who was hugely successful. I really only like non-successful people because they do not take it for granted that one has a steady job and a good income.

2 months ago | Likes 24 Dislikes 1

Right? Once you've been successful enough to have a few tens of millions of dollars, you COULD have the attitude that, "Well, I enjoy doing this and would like to keep doing it. But I shouldn't take a rejection personally, and if I don't get any more roles I can still live comfortably." Well, you and I could, but they might think otherwise.

2 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0