Rachel Ward

LOS ANGELES -- Where has Rachel Ward been?

The star of "Sharkey's Machine" and "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid" was an up 'n' comer in the early 80s, but has largely been out of the public eye ever since, living with hubby Bryan Brown in Australia.

Ward, who showed up at the TV Critics Assocation press tour for a "Thorn Birds" reunion, said she gave up acting, largely because of the bad reviews she got for her work in the mini-seires.

"If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen," she said. "That's kind of what I did, and happily so."

Ward, who will be featured in an upcoming episode of PBS's "Pioneers of Television," had to be convinced to come to TCA, said a "Pioneers" producer who told Ward that the appearance might be cathargic for the actress who said after the pans she "never got her confidence back."

Ward, who now spends time behind the camera, was reunited with "Thorn Birds" co-star Richard Chamberlain who she had only seen once since they made the mini-series 30 years ago.

Also on the "Pioneers" panel: Louis Gossett Jr., Cloris Leachman and Michele Lee.