THE STORY OF US
ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S FAVOURITE STARS AND HER HUSBAND ON THEIR VERY SPECIAL LOVE JOURNEY
Serendipity was surely at play almost 20 years ago when former Mcleod’s Daughters and 800 Words favourite Bridie Carter fell head over heels for her soulmate Michael Wilson.
At the time, Bridie had just completed her first year of filming in outback South Australia, playing Tess Mcleod in the popular rural drama of the 2000s. And the NIDA graduate was understandably ready for some time out from the cameras.
“I planned this break in Byron and rented this little dairy bale up in the hills from a makeup artist friend’s mother – as you do,” says Bridie with a laugh. “I ended up doing this big road trip on my own, driving my little car from South Australia to Melbourne to see family, then to Sydney to see friends, and finally on to Byron.
“The first couple of days after I arrived in Byron, I ran smackbang into Michael – whom I had previously met through mutual friends in Sydney – and the rest is kind of history.”
At the time, the world of television drama was certainly unfamiliar territory to Michael, then working as a fashion designer and now a fourthgeneration farmer.
“I’d previously had nothing to do with the TV industry and had never been one to be excited about anyone being in it,” he says. “I’m also pretty shy, so I don’t let too much out of the bag.”
Adds Bridie: “Michael was interested in me as a person, not me for what I did. We’re both pretty down-to-earth, upfront and honest people, so like attracts like. That’s how we’ve always been.”
Fifteen years ago, the couple exchanged vows in the Byron Bay hinterland, where they still live on a farm today.
“We had the best wedding ever – we often want to repeat it!” laughs Bridie. “It was just the
most incredible, fantastic wedding. We had the best band and amazing food and we did it all ourselves. At the time, I was actually planning two weddings, as I was having fittings for Tess’ dress for her wedding to Nick (Myles Pollard) while planning our own. But it was just the best celebration.”
Now parents to sons, Otis, 14, and Tobias, 9, as well as Michael’s 21-year-old son, James, the pair clearly love family life.
“The boys are our world,” says Michael simply.
Adds Brodie: “Especially when we had Otis, Michael made a lot of sacrifices in order for me to continue working and filming.
“But we’ve always been a tight-knit, close family and were not interested in handing our children over to babysitters and nannies. Our family is the most important thing to us.”
Easy to see, too, is the fact that the couple are still crazy about each other.
“When you actually look back, you go, ‘Oh my goodness! What we’ve been through together!’ Like everybody’s life, there are the ups and the downs, the joys and the heartaches,” reflects Bridie, adding, “that’s just the human story. But we have stuck by each other through everything and that’s been unquestionable.”
To which Michael concurs: “Most definitely – and our marriage gets better every day. I don’t think there’s any secret to it. We’re just best friends, we do everything together and there’s a high element of respect.”
“We also don’t take each other for granted,” concludes Bridie. “Every day, you don’t know what’s coming and you have to make the most of it. We often say how grateful we are.”