‘i don’t consider myself a Sex Symbol – i’m a woman’
Jane Seymour on being proud and open about who she is, the joys of connecting with her grandchildren and why she’s wild about her latest thrilling TV role
Jane Seymour has garnered a legion of fans over the years, thanks to TV shows such as Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman and her role as Solitaire in James Bond film Live And Let Die.
The 71-year-old Golden Globe winner has been referred to as a “sex symbol” throughout her career, which spans over five decades, but she is – quite rightly – reluctant to see herself in that light.
“I don’t consider myself a sex symbol, I consider myself a woman,” Jane says, as she video-calls us from her home in Malibu. “A woman who loves life and a woman who has the privilege of loving and being loved.”
Known for her youthful appearance, the actress reveals there is no magic formula for her.
“I’ve chosen to age as I age, as gracefully as I possibly can – and as an actress I’m just a great believer in making sure all the muscles get to move!”
And she relishes the fact that stars are now more willing to discuss the matter of ageing, along with subjects such as the menopause and mental health.
“I’m so excited that women are talking about menopause and mental health,” she says. “It’s so important for women to have these conversations with other women. The more we share, the better it is, which is why I propose being open-minded, open-hearted and just plain transparent about life and its challenges.”
When it comes to her family life, Jane is a proud mother-offour – to Katherine, Sean, John and Kristopher. She’s also grandmother to Rowan, Willa and Luna. And nine-year-old Willa is a huge fan of her latest project, which sees Jane immortalised in a video game called Solitaire Grand Harvest.
“She thinks it’s the coolest thing on the planet that her grandmother is in the game with the dog. So I have a new appreciation for that,” says Jane. “I now find it’s a wonderful way to interact with a much younger generation because that’s what they do, it’s where they live. I’m a great believer in learning and getting into this generation.”
Jane has also connected with her granddaughter through books and her iconic work.
“I’ve been showing her the beauty of these old volumes of Jane Austen and she likes to dress up in my Dr Quinn costume, too. It’s fun to have something that helps you connect with a younger generation,” she says.
The conversation soon drifts towards Jane’s role in Acorn TV’S hit series Harry Wild, which has recently been renewed for a second season.
The Irish mystery thriller follows the antics of a retired English professor, played by Jane, who discovers a real knack for investigation and cannot help but interfere with the cases assigned to her police detective son.
“When I first signed onto the project, I felt I’d never seen this show. I’ve seen Murder, She Wrote and a million crime dramas, but I’ve never seen anything with the combination of humanity, humour and – since it’s underpinned by literature and history – intellectual interest. It exposes you to the Brontë sisters, Jane Austen and Shakespeare, whether you like it or not!
“It’s been surprisingly successful and we’ve not only been renewed but we’re now also global. The only other time that happened with something I did was Dr Quinn. I love the idea that something I did kind of transcends cultures and is appreciated by all ages.”
The show resonates with a wide audience and has really struck a chord with fans. But Jane feels her starring role is an opportunity to share the views of “baby boomers” like herself.
“I’m beyond grateful to be given these roles,” she says. “I actually love what I do, but I love this material. The new season is getting better and better, but it’s exciting, too, because there are an enormous number of us baby boomers who haven’t been heard. Our experiences and our lives, we have so much more history, so much more to talk and laugh about.”
Aside from learning her lines in preparation for the new series, Jane is looking forward to the American holiday of Thanksgiving and cooking for her family. One of the little-known facts about the Hollywood actress is that she grows most of her own produce at her home in
Malibu, some of which will be a part of her Thanksgiving feast. Jane goes on to explain that she finds the process of growing her own plants to be incredibly therapeutic.
“I have the pleasure of harvesting from my garden every day and I’ve always loved that. I’ve always loved growing things. I’ve always loved the idea of nature anyway, but harvesting nature so that you can eat healthily and share is just so important.”
It isn’t just plants that Jane tends to either – she is a proud keeper of chickens too, much to her neighbours’ chagrin.
“People laugh at me living in Malibu, saying it’s the most expensive chicken real estate out there. At one point, I kept cockerels, too, which the neighbours were not happy about. The cockerels have found new homes now, but we still have a lot of chickens.”
Jane Seymour appears in Solitaire Grand Harvest, the popular Solitaire mobile app game, available from both the app store and Google Play