Jeremy Eden Samuel Johnson OAM

In 2012, actor Samuel Johnson and his sister Connie, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer, founded the charity Love Your Sister to raise money for cancer research. The following year, Johnson set out on a 12-month unicycle ride around Australia to increase awareness of the disease. In 2016, he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for his service to cancer research and the performing arts. Connie died in 2017 – the same year Johnson won a Gold Logie for most popular personality on Australian TV. Love Your Sister has now raised over $15 million in support of cancer research.

‘I have a strong affinity for Love Your Sister, as my mum passed away from cancer in 2008,’ says Jeremy Eden.

‘I first spoke to Sam by video not long after he had returned home from hospital, having been hit by a car in a near-fatal accident in June 2021. Despite being in recovery, Sam was excited to collaborate on this portrait and encouraged me to include my own story. We met in Melbourne late last year and I decided to compose this portrait of Sam looking contemplative and holding a photo of my mum Annette as a way to commemorate her.’