Sam Neill Named Farm Animals After Famous Friends

Sam Neill, known for his role in Jurassic Park, cherished his farm in New Zealand, where he cared for various animals. Many of these farm inhabitants, including pigs and roosters, were named after Neill's famous friends, such as Michael Fassbender and Annette Bening.

Neill actively sought permission from his celebrity acquaintances before bestowing their names upon his animals. He shared that some friends, like Helena Bonham Carter, took a keen interest in their animal namesakes. This practice stemmed from a peculiar reason: Neill explained that "you can't eat a friend."

He also operated the Two Paddocks winery. In one instance, a pig named Angelica and another named Bryan were featured. Neill humorously noted that Angelica, despite his name, was not suited for farm duties. He also shared a moment where his rooster, Michael Fassbender, lost feathers after a dog attack.

The actor's bond with his animals extended to sharing activities like yoga with a pig and singing to his cows. He previously owned a ram named Jeff Goldblum, reinforcing his unique approach to animal naming, which he humorously attributed to not wanting to eat his friends.