Nigel John Dermot Neill was born on 14 September 1947 in Omagh, Northern Ireland. After his childhood years as the son of a father in the British army, he moved to New Zealand with his family and grew up in Christchurch. While studying English Literature during his university years, his interest in acting quickly brought him to the front of the stage. His career, which he started as a documentary producer at the New Zealand National Film Unit, gained a different dimension with the 1977 film "Sleeping Dogs". "My Brilliant Career" (1979), in which he starred with Judy Davis, was the first real step that took him to the international arena. Moving to Hollywood in the early 1980s, Neill had his first major leading role as Damien Thorn in "Omen III: The Final Conflict" (1981). In the same year, he received critical acclaim for his intense performance in Andrzej Żuławski's cult horror film "Possession". He strengthened his presence in both thriller and box office cinema with productions such as "Dead Calm" (1989) and "Red October" (1990). The real breaking point came in 1993. In "Jurassic Park" directed by Steven Spielberg, paleontologist Dr. By bringing Alan Grant to life, he became one of the most iconic figures in cinema history. In the same year, he played an important role in Jane Campion's film "The Piano", proving that he is one of the rare actors who can simultaneously leave a mark on both commercial and artistic cinema. Taking part in two such different productions in the same year was a concrete indicator of his acting capacity. In the following years, he starred in John Carpenter's films such as "In the Mouth of Madness" (1994) and "Event Horizon" (1997), which have become reference points of the horror genre. Neill, who also took strong steps in the field of television, took the lead role in the mini-series "Merlin"; but he gave one of his most notable performances on the small screen in Peaky Blinders. In this BBC production, which met with the audience between 2013 and 2014, he played the role of Inspector Chester Campbell, masterfully portraying a character that is both oppressive and complex. His return to New Zealand cinema with "Hunt for the Wilderpeople" (2016), directed by Taika Waititi, brought him both critical acclaim and the opportunity to reconnect with a wide audience. In 2022, "Jurassic World Dominion" and Dr. Alan Grant donned his costume once again. In addition to his acting, Neill, who is also known for the "Two Paddocks" vineyards he established in New Zealand, has demonstrated his versatility and durability in every period with his career spanning decades.