Elena Neill is one of longtime actor Sam Neill's four children, three of whom are his biological kids. Following his cancer diagnosis, during his treatment, her father began writing a book for her and her half-siblings.
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Elena Neill drew her first breath on January 10, 1990, born to Sam Neill and his second wife, Noriko Watanabe. She is the second child born to the "Jurrasic World Dominion" star and one of four who have called him their dad.
Her father has undoubtedly cemented his name in film and TV, and she, too, has dabbled in the industry. The actor is also quite the family man; however, he has protected his loved ones' privacy, particularly that of his children, including Elena.
Sam Neill and Noriko Watanabe at the premiere of "Event Horizon" on August 13, 1997, in Beverly Hills, California. | Source: Getty Images
Elena Neill's Family
Elena's parents met on the set of "Dead Calm," a late '80s thriller that starred her dad alongside Nicole Kidman. Her mom had been employed as a make-up artist, and she and Sam began a romantic relationship.
They tied the knot in 1989 and welcomed Elena the following year. Noriko had a daughter, Maiko Spencer, from a previous relationship, whom Sam officially adopted after they married. Sam also had another son, Tim Neill, from his first marriage with Lisa Harrow.
Their family expanded further when Sam later met another one of his kids, a son. The details around his relationship with this particular son, whose name is unknown, are unclear. Still, online reports say he had been adopted by another family when he reconnected with Sam in 1994.
Sam Neill and Noriko Watanabe at the Hollywood Nights fundraising event for the Prince of Wales Hospital at the Four Season Hotel on November 23, 2006, Sydney, Australia. | Source: Getty Images
Elena Neill's Acting Stint and Childhood
Elena briefly followed in her father's footsteps, booking her first role in the 2004 crime-comedy "The Brush-Off." Her dad directed the film, and she had a minor role, playing Ayla Katyn. Her next role would only come 13 years later in the crime series "Top of the Lake."
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Elena appeared as a Tattooist in the fourth episode of season two, opposite Elizabeth Moss and Gwendoline Christie. Those are currently the only onscreen credits under her name. Outside of acting, it's unknown what career she's pursuing.
Additionally, little is known about her childhood; however, her dad once shared that she had a severe stutter when she was young. The actor confessed that he, too, used to stutter, but his daughter got better after six months of treatment.
Noriko Watanabe and Sam Neill attend an event at the Uptown Theater on June 9, 1993, in Washington, D.C. | Source: Getty Images
Elena Neill Was the First to Make Sam Neill a Granddad
In November 2012, Sam shared that his daughter, Elena, was expecting her baby: his first grandchild. The Hollywood star didn't divulge too many details about the birth; however, he now has eight grandkids.
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He was diagnosed with stage three blood cancer in March 2022 and began chemotherapy just weeks after. Three months later, however, his doctor noted that the treatment stopped working, and they switched him to a rare anti-cancer drug.
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Sam Neill and Noriko Watanabe attend the afterparty following the European Premiere of "Leatherheads" at Automat on April 8, 2008, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
Thankfully, it worked, and his cancer has been in remission for a year. Still, he is required to do infusions every two weeks indefinitely. During his treatment, Sam reflected deeply on his life and was filled with immense gratitude, particularly for his children's support.
He decided to pen down some of his life stories and compiled them in his memoir, "Did I Ever Tell You This?" When he wrote the book, Sam felt he was "running against the clock" as he didn't know how much longer he had to live.
Among the stories he shared was one about Elena when she and her classmates were asked to share what their parents did for a living. "My daddy sits in caravans," little Elena replied. To Sam, her answer was both "perceptive" and "entirely accurate."
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