Bryan Brown and Rachel Ward's characters may not have lived happily ever after on The Thorn Birds, but their real life relationship has resulted in a marriage that's lasted 40 years.
The romantic TV series saw the couple feature in a love triangle as English actress Rachel played the lead opposite Bryan - who portrayed Meggie's future husband Luke - with Richard Chamberlain taking the role of Ralph, a conflicted priest.
Although the on-screen passion was between Meggie and Ralph, there was a happily ever after for real-life couple Rachel and Bryan - the two fell madly in love and wed just months after filming ended in 1983.
