The actor has non-Hodgkin angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, diagnosed early last year. A rare form of blood cancer. He originally thought he had COVID.
He admits he is not that interested in his diagnosis and that there is nothing he can do about it. “It’s out of my control. If you can’t control it, don’t get into it.” said Neill.
After finding the chemotherapy was ineffective, his doctor prescribed an anti-cancer drug which put the star in remission for more than 12 months.
The drug is administered in a fortnightly infusion, leave him feel worse.
Neill told Australian Story that while he’s not “remotely afraid” of dying, it would be “annoying” because he’s still got things he wants to do.
Not giving up
Neill continues to work through his treatment.
His love for wine continues. He is busy with his Central Otago vineyard, Two Paddocks, continuing to produce wonderful wines.
“The problem with being an actor-slash- wine producer is that people might more easily hear of your wine, but they might not take it quite as seriously as the wine deserves.”
Neill continues “When you’re getting 95 points from Wine Spectator in New York, then you know [you’re being taken seriously] … often, as is the way, it takes an overseas critic to recognise you.”
He is currently filming an adaptation of writer Liane Moriarty’s Apples Never Fall and is writing a book. He sees it as a memoir of sorts for his four children and eight grandchildren.
“I started to think I better write some of this down because I’m not sure how long I have to live. I was running against the clock.
“I can’t tell you how privileged I am to spend that amount of time with so many actors, so many of whom I’ve really enjoyed and so many of whom I’ve really admired,” he told Australian Story.
And while he’s always been big on the idea of living in the moment, cancer has amplified the importance of it and making the most of his time.
He shared that when the beat up from a round of his treatment has subsided, he looks forward to “Ten days … in which I could not feel more alive or pleased to be breathing and looking at a blue sky”.
