Jane at 68:
She was one of the most beautiful Bond girls, and 45 years on Jane Seymour is still turning heads. Here she reveals why she’s happy to age naturally and loves her role as grandmother
“I’ve got plenty of wrinkles but I still feel sexy!”
After posting pictures of her incredible body and agedefying appearance on social media, it’s hard to believe Jane Seymour is actually 68. The British actress first found fame in 1970 in the war drama The Only Way, but it was in 1973 that she became known internationally when she won the part of Bond babe Solitaire in the James Bond film Live And Let Die.
Jane – who was awarded an OBE in 2000 – has twin sons John Stacy and Kristopher Steven, 23, with actor ex James Keach, as well as Katherine, 37, and Sean, 33, with former husband David Flynn – yet she looks like she’s barely aged a day!
The star, who has been married and divorced four times, is currently dating director and producer David Green, 70, and says she’ll continue to age gracefully rather than splurge on cosmetic surgery.
EMBRACING AGEING
“I still feel sexy,” smiles Jane, who talked to Closer exclusively at The Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party in LA.
“I don’t do Botox and I’m happy to fly the flag for older women. I’ve got plenty of wrinkles, though. In fact, I’m playing a woman in her 70s right now, in a series called The Kominsky Method [a Netflix show with Michael Douglas], so I wear a grey wig and have all my wrinkles showing. I’m very happy to do so.
“But I’ve never had any problems getting roles as I’ve grown older. I’ve got a lot of great work that is happening right now, and I think it’s because of not trying to be anything other than who I am.
“Life has been very good. I’m lucky that I have a very nice boyfriend – and he’s no toyboy! I enjoy my life, my wonderful family, and good friends. I love acting, everything I’m doing in my career, and I have a good man by my side and lots of grandchildren. What more could I want?”
After her Bond Girl role, Jane was catapulted to stardom – clocking a Golden Globe in 1981 for her role in the TV miniseries of Steinbeck’s novel East Of Eden. She also won an Emmy in 1988 for playing Maria Callas in Onassis – The Richest Man In The World. In the ’90s, Jane won another Golden Globe for her work as Dr Michaela “Mike” Quinn in the smash-hit TV series Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.
Now Jane – who appeared on Dancing With The Stars in 2007 – admits she’s got her sights set on a part closer to home, in ITV’S long-running soap Coronation Street.
She tells us, “My friend Ian Mckellen told me, ‘You’ve got to do Corrie!’ and I thought, ‘Yes, why not!’ If they called me and I could go there and do it and have some fun with it, then yes!
“It’s a cult thing. Nigel Havers went to school with me and he was in Corrie for a bit. I haven’t actually seen it since Ena Sharples was in it [in the ’70s]. My boyfriend David started out on Emmerdale and that’s still going strong!”
GREATEST ROLE
Jane now lives in a luxurious mansion in Malibu, California, but the star, who was born in Hayes, west London, is proud to be a Brit and tries to come home several times a year to visit loved ones, or for work.
She says, “I go back to England all the time – I love everything about it. I’m an Ameribrit! I’ve definitely not lost my accent, but I can do an American accent, absolutely!”
But Jane says her greatest role is that of grandmother to six children, who she loves spoiling. “It’s incredible, I’m a very cool grandma,” she says. “They call me Oma, which is Dutch for grandmother [Jane’s mother was Dutch]. My daughter is not into fancy clothes or jewellery, but my grandkids made a beeline for my closet from the age of one! They put on my sparkly Jimmy Choos or Louboutins – they know my best shoes!”