JANE’S STELLAR CAREER
SHE MAY BE CELEBRATING HER 70TH BIRTHDAY EARLY NEXT YEAR, BUT THIS SCREEN ICON IS SHOWING NO SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN
She’s the famed English beauty whose career on screen has spanned more than five decades. And even as the industry changed beyond all recognition, Jane Seymour remained a film and TV fixture with stand-out roles in 1981 miniseries East of Eden – for which she won a Golden Globe – Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, which aired on TV from 1993 to 1998, and 2005’s Wedding Crashers.
That Seymour, who also currently stars in The Kominsky Method on Netflix, avoided a career slowdown as she grew older is a testament to her versatility and talent. “I’m lucky enough to still be offered a lot of really wonderful roles,” she tells WHO during a Zoom call from her home in Malibu, California. “I’ve always played a lot of character roles in addition to leads. Just ask me to do an accent or give me a wig and I’m good to go!”
You’ll be celebrating a special birthday on February 15 next year. How do you feel about turning 70?
I have no idea how I’ll celebrate. I’m supposed to be in Spain filming a series [Glow and Darkness] about Saint Francis of Assisi so, COVID-19 permitting, I’ll be working I hope. We were filming in Madrid earlier this year, but had to stop abruptly when Spain closed down in March. As for my birthday, I’m sure I’ll celebrate it in my favourite way at some point … and that’s by spending it with my friends and family. I don’t have any issue with turning 70. I’m not going to name an age that I feel I’m closest to in my mind, but I’m grateful to still have a lot of energy. I don’t have any ailments that I know of. I feel incredibly fortunate to be healthy and very mobile.
You look incredible! What’s your secret?
I’ve always slept very well with no help – that does wonders! I stick to a mostly Mediterranean diet, because that’s the kind of food I like anyway. I almost never eat red meat, instead I stick to fish, a little bit of chicken and lots of vegies. I grow greens in my garden and collect eggs from my chickens. I also do Pilates, isometric exercises and I walk a good 5km three times a week, depending on where I am.
Do you have any vices?
I like dark chocolate. I love Australian and New Zealand wines; they could’ve gotten me in trouble when I was working there recently, but it’s all about moderation. I love food and trying new things. I don’t really consider any of those things vices.
One of your most iconic roles was playing the lead in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman. Would you ever consider bringing that show back?
People stop me to talk about the show all the time. There’s such an appetite out there to bring it back. I don’t know if a revival is possible but I’m really proud that Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman was so timely. If people didn’t know that Joe Lando – who played Byron Sully – and I had aged, you could watch it now and think it was a current program. That my character Dr “Mike” Quinn was a strong, independent woman still resonates. It’s probably one of the things I’m most asked about and if Joe – who’s a very good friend of mine – and I are out together, we always get stopped for photos. The pictures go up on Instagram and the Dr Quinn fans go crazy.
You’ve carved out a real niche in comedy roles these days. What’s fun for you about doing a film like Wedding Crashers?
Comedies are so much fun. I like to change things up. I think I get considered for all different types of roles because for years now, I’ve played a wide range of ages. I’m nearly 70 but I still play women in their 50s. In East of Eden [based on the John Steinbeck novel], I played a 15-year-old through to 55 – and I won a Golden Globe for that!
What was it like working with Robert
De Niro and Christopher Walken on your latest film, The War with Grandpa?
This one has such a wonderful cast and it’s
a fun romp. Robert’s character Ed has to move back in with his family and takes over his grandson Peter’s room, and Peter’s not happy about it. I play Diane and I meet Ed while I’m at work at the Best Buy supermarket. We bond over the fact neither of us like self service check-outs. I filmed there on my first day on set and because it’s a real supermarket, customers kept asking me for prices or where to find things. I was continually saying, “I’m sorry, I don’t work here. I’m making a movie.” I’m glad I was so convincing in the role though!
Did you know Robert in real life?
Not really. I’d perhaps met him at an awards ceremony or an event back in the day, but I’d never worked with him before. He was wonderful. Working with Christopher was a bit of a reunion because we filmed Wedding Crashers together. He’s great fun.
You recently spent some time in Australia. Did you have to quarantine?
Yes. I visited Australia to make a film called Ruby’s Choice and because the script was so wonderful, I really wanted to do it. So the producers got permission for me to fly over, but I had to do two weeks in quarantine like everybody else. It was very stringent. I arrived not knowing what to expect and thought maybe I’d get to stay in a hotel of my choice close to the filming location, but instead I went to a government-designated hotel. It was OK. I kept busy by painting and rehearsing. All the preparation I would’ve done for the film in-person, I did via Zoom.
Had you spent any time in Oz before?
I came over two years ago for the Melbourne Cup. I also went to Uluru and Sydney on that trip. It was my first trip to the Antipodes and I loved it, so when I got offered the role in Ruby’s Choice I jumped at it.
What can you tell us about that role?
My character Ruby is the matriarch of the family, and she has Alzheimer’s disease. But it’s not a downer of a movie at all. Ruby has to move in with her daughter, who’s played by the wonderful Jacqueline McKenzie, and her daughter. Then another family member who’s having marital problems moves in, so now the house is full of family. They all have issues and Ruby, despite her condition, ends up solving every single problem. I think that one is coming out in March next year.
Did you do a lot of research to play someone with Alzheimer’s?
I spent a lot of time with my good friend [the late singer] Glen Campbell, as he went through all the various stages of that disease. Right at the end, he didn’t know who anyone was, but he’d hear music and his face would just light up. He’d try to sing along. I did most of my research for this role through him.
You’re so busy, what’s downtime like for you?
I love spending time with my family, especially my three young grandchildren. I’m a fun grandma! I do ballet with one, another loves to paint and the youngest one just wants to do it all. There’s a lot going on in the world right now, but I’m just so grateful to be busy with work, and also have the time to be there for my family, too.
(The War with Grandpa is in cinemas now)