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Mick Jagger’s Outlaw Movie Role
July 13, 1969: Mick in is Australia shooting his part for the Ned Kellymovie (about the life of the 19th-century Aussie, outlaw directed by Tony Richardson), which extended until September that year. Meanwhile, he writes Brown Sugar while staying there.
‘Ned Kelly’: Mick Jagger Rides Into Unfamiliar Territory (1969)
As well as dazzling audiences with his magnetic presence on stage, Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger had already dipped his toes into acting, appearing in the controversial 1968 film Performance, where his portrayal of a reclusive rock star earned both praise and criticism for its surreal and boundary-pushing style. Riding the wave of that cinematic intrigue, Jagger stepped into an even bolder role: portraying Australia’s most infamous outlaw in the 1970 film Ned Kelly. The vision behind the movie was ambitious. Director Tony Richardson, known for The Charge Of The Light Brigade and Tom Jones, aimed to blend historical grit with a lyrical, almost folk-song-like tone. “The more I worked on it, Richardson explained, “the more I thought that I could make it by adopting a ballad…almost a country and western formula.”
A Bucket-Headed Bandit and Chaos Behind the Scenes
Despite the dreamlike cinematography and poetic ambition, Ned Kelly faced turbulence from the outset. The production was hampered by creative clashes, poorly received rewrites, and cultural friction. Richardson later blamed “the Australians” for part of the chaos, while the tension on set seemed to mirror the outlaw spirit of Ned himself. The myth of Kelly’s rebellion extended beyond the screen—off-camera drama turned into legend.
“Don’t Do It, Mick!”
Even within the Rolling Stones’ inner circle, doubts loomed. “With that bucket on his head!?” Keith Richards chuckled in a 2008 interview with FilmInk. “I said, ‘Don’t do it, Mick!’ Mick’s not natural cinema food.” But ever the restless spirit, Jagger pursued the challenge. Whether successful or not, Ned Kellybecame a strange detour in Jagger’s career, capturing a moment when rock and cinema collided—with mixed results and unforgettable flair.
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