She reappeared in 1987 playing opposite her husband, Bryan Brown (whom she met on the set of "The Thorn Birds"), in "The Umbrella Woman". In 2001, she was again nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film for her role in "On the Beach" (2000). Also in 2001, Ward won the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Short Fiction Film for "The Big House", and Best Australian Film at Flickerfest. The film also won the Film Critics Circle of Australia award, as did her 2003 film "Martha's New Coat". That film also won the 2003 ATOM Award.