As the sun set on our magical town, a star who calls Central home shone from Central Cinema.

Sam Neill, as Patron of The Central Cinema, joined a sold out member crowd to mingle, speak and watch the cult classic film, Hunt for the Wilderpeople. 

The Central App’s Vicki McLean sat with Sam to informally discuss his love for Central Otago and his love of film. 

"There's nothing like going to the cinema, we've had a year of watching Netflix, and now we want to get back to having company in a theatre watching a movie together,” he says.

"Part of the reason I agreed to be the Patron of this august society," he adds with a grin.

Sam Neill entered the world as Nigel Neill, in Omagh, Northern Ireland in 1947 - the nickname Sam reportedly came into play, after the discovery there were a lot of Nigels at school. 

His father was a third generation New Zealander serving in the British Army, his mother English. 

They returned home in 1953 to join the family's wine and spirit merchant business.

Sam says he left New Zealand around the age of 30, to work as an actor as “staying in New Zealand would have meant a job every five years - not enough to feed a family - so I had to go and explore.”

His NZ On Screen biography states Sam has over 120 movies under his belt, but from that lengthy list there’s one which he remembers most fondly. 

"Occasionally I get asked to do something back here, and this was one I was really excited to do, and it was a very fun shoot to do it.

“I really love Julian, and you know, it’s a film that is close to my heart,” he says. 

Sam Neill spoke to a sell out crowd at Central cinema last night, with a special screening of Hunt for the Wilderpeople. 

Away from the camera, Sam says he lives “quietly and plucks my vines". His local vineyard Two Paddocks launched in 1993. 

We sat on the couch for a chat with a glass of his own Two Paddocks Pinot and while chatting a woman asked Sam about his role as Michael in A Cry in the Dark (Australia and New Zealand - titled "Evil Angels" elsewhere in the world). 

"... My question is: How unfair was Lindy treated? I was a mother myself at the time with a young baby, and just felt everyday for the welfare of this lady being accused of killing her baby.”

The woman is Frances Anderson - new to Central, having moved here from Auckland three months ago. 

I felt a sense of nostalgia and noticed his body language change as if he became his character, Michael Chamberlain, all over again. 

He answers with deep emotion and feeling: "Michael had a really hard time, and it was indescribable what he and Lindy went through."

Conscious of all the people starting to surround us for time to talk to Sam, get photos, he politely left our conversation and continued to welcome the waiting crowd of fans. 

Talking to the crowd he mentioned his love of Central Otago and how lucky we are to live in such a great country. 

“I come back and listen to people moaning “everything has gone to **** here” (and) “service is bad” but I think this place is utterly amazing,” he says. 

“We are so fortunate to live in this country.

“And we are so really lucky to be here tonight, in this cinema, enjoying something together.  

“This is an experience that not many in the world are able to do, so let's not take it for granted." 

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