Hollywood legend Jessica Lange has been keeping busy lately, which is rare in an industry that seems to place a high value on youth. Looking radiant at 68, the actress has generated heat – and an Emmy nomination – for her latest collaboration with producer Ryan Murphy. Jessica is up against such heavy hitters as Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Carrie Coon and Felicity Huffman for a Best Actress in a Limited Series for her portrayal of Joan Crawford on Murphy’s Feud. Oh, and she’s up against her co-star on the series, Susan Sarandon, so she’ll also have to contend with s split vote.
Jessica spoke with AARP Magazine (a magazine that I am seeing so many of my contemporaries on the cover lately) about her career and life highlights. Among some of the fun facts the almost EGOT-winner (all she needs is a Grammy) shared were that she’s a huge Bob Dylan fan and she’s got two tattoos – a crescent moon on her hip and a Celtic knot on her wrist. The whole interview is definitely worth a read, as Jessica has had an interesting career, but here are some highlights:
On her first role, in 1976’s King Kong: I had no idea how big the movie was, or that coming out of it I wouldn’t be taken seriously. I went back to taking acting classes for a few years. When you’re young, you don’t see the connections, how one thing leads to the other.
On winning her first Oscar for Tootsie in 1983: I knew when I did Frances that it was something extraordinary. I love those kinds of parts, with huge emotional swings. But Tootsie turned out to be the best film I ever made. And to win my first Oscar for it was thrilling, not terrifying, the way it might be today. The awards were more casual then. You did your own hair; you did your own makeup. It wasn’t the fashion event of the season.
On working with Ryan Murphy: Horror has never been my favorite genre, but Ryan Murphy, the producer, is a great seducer. I thought, I’ll do it for a year. And it turned out to be four years of amazing roles. Television has been great.
On being an older actress in Hollywood: Ageism is pervasive in this industry. It’s not a level playing field. You don’t often see women in their 60s playing romantic leads, yet you will see men in their 60s playing romantic leads with costars who are decades younger. I think about how few wonderful actresses of my generation are still doing viable, important film work. You go to television. You go to the stage. You do whatever you can because you want to keep working.
[From AARP Magazine]
Jessica also spoke about her former partner, actor and playwright Sam Shepard, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 73. The two met during the making of Frances, were together for almost 30 years, and had two kids together, Hannah, 31 and Samuel, 30. She recalled that “I wouldn’t call Sammy easygoing and funny, but everybody has their dark side, and he always does it with a sense of humor.”
I love Jessica Lange and have since Tootsie. I also agree 100% with her opinion on ageism in the industry – and this isn’t the first time she’s spoken about it. I am glad there are still producers and show runners who recognize her many talents and her ageless beauty. And, of course, who wouldn’t love a woman who can subtly throw shade better than anybody else? I relive this moment over and over again and it makes me smile every single time.
Photos: AARP/Ruven Afanador, WENN.com
Sad state of affairs but we also have a responsibility with our consumer habits. When a makeup or skin care ad uses twenty year olds in their anti-aging ads email the company and complain. When a movie pairs the “hot” mom with a sixty year old actor don’t go see it. Read books with older female characters as sales often equal movie options. Expose your children to strong female characters in TV and film at every age. Give your children opportunities to have conversations with vibrant older individuals. I could go on and on but we can help dry up the market for this crap if we stop buying what Hollywood is selling.
I agree with you, I get offended when they cast an old crusty man with a female lead in her 20’s, I feel like men are objectifying women but women are also objectifying themselves (new feminism thinking Emily Ratajowski, the Kardashians etc…)
So anyways i’m happy to read your comment because you are refusing to encourage certain things. I feel sometimes people are accepting whatever Hollywood is serving because Oh! It’s Hollywood! Terrible things happen in Hollywood too….just watching the documentary “An open secret” made me reflect on this.
Have a nice day everyone!
Jessica Lange is the s**t, she was amazing in AHS!
Agree on all points!
Jessica Lange is the s**t!
New feminism isn’t new. It’s repackaged something else. The old feminism of equality works for me.
Hollywood casting of old goats and starlets is heave-worthy and becoming less and less acceptable! Yay.,
Well said!
I love Jessica Lange, I hope she’s doing ok right now. I though of her first when I heard about Sam Shepard yesterday. They were a great couple, talent and beauty for days, and class.
RIP Sam Shepard
Second that, wonderfully talented guy, and so handsome too. Talking of acting legends, also RIP the great Jeanne Moreau.
She’s one of my all time favorite actresses and I thought of her too when I read the news (immediately thought of the bath scene in Big Fish when her husband is dying and she says “I don’t think I’ll never dry out” – one of my fave movies with her). May he rest in peace.
That this quote got an article on CB but her ex’s death didn’t is unbelievable. Interesting sidenote: Shepard was dating 30-years-younger Mia Kirshner as of 2015. Jessica shaded them in an interview without naming names. It was discussed on zetaboards but didn’t seem to be newsworthy anywhere else.
Love Jessica. I’m 64, and there is no question the best opportunities for older actresses now are on television. I love AMERICAN HORROR STORY in no small part because I can see Jessica, Kathy Bates, and [my daughter and I are convinced she is actually immortal] goddess Angela Bassett.
Susan Blakely, a model, delivered a stunning performance as Frances Farmer in a film called “Will There Ever Be A Morning”, which was based on Farmer’s own book by the same name, and which stuck far more closely to the facts of Farmer’s sad life than the Jessica Lange version did. I think Blakley and company got a raw deal in terms of appreciation for a superior script and acting.
I liked Lange a lot in “Gray Gardens” but other than that her performances are kind of unremarkable for me.
Just saw JL play Shirley MacLaine’s bff in a movie on Netflix (so forgettable I’ve forgotten the title).
Next to SM, JL was a one-note actress. The contrast was stark. JL’s role required more than breathy little murmurings and tears yet that’s what she gave us.
Great read, she seems really cool. On a snarky note, AARP sure photoshopped/airbrushed the heck out of Jessica on their cover.
The sad part is that a lot of times the ageism is subtle and we are genuinely trained not to notice it. For example, many times it’s not so extreme as an old man paired with a much younger woman but you WILL see a man 7-8 years older paired with a younger woman. Like, it’s extremely common to see a 36 year old man paired with a 29 year old or a 35 year old man paired with a 28 year old etc. That doesn’t seem like a huge age difference but it still enforces this idea that women are younger even if it’s only by 7 years or so. I’ve started to get very aware of it and it really bothers me.
It’s really gotten to the point where when I see a rare male/female pairing where the woman is older and it’s NOT like a plot point (like she’s not made out to be a cougar etc) I feel really really protective of the relationship and the actress in that role.
I didn’t like the film too much but I did like that in Nocturnal Animals Amy Adams was older than both her husbands and that it wasn’t a big deal or even, IIRC, mentioned.
But like you say, it’s ingrained to the point of hilarity: for example in Gone Girl Ben Affleck’s twin sister was played by Carrie Coon who is a decade younger than him. Interestingly, in the book the character Affleck plays is younger than his wife (it’s noted several times) but, of course, in the movie version it’s the opposite way, which I found disappointing as it removed an extra layer of nuance from the piece.
Cary Grant’s mother character in North by Northwest was the same age as he was in real life. It used to be even worse. Actresses were done at 35.
…unless they lied about their age, which most of them did. Only if you were a big, BIG megastar would the press actually track down birth records for verification.
Faye Dunaway said even if the woman is just 1 year older than the man, it will get noticed and written about.
I adore Jessica Lange, she will always be a Hollywood treasure.
If only she hadn’t given in and botched her face up with surgery. Next time Jessica, call Jane Fonda for her surgeon’s number.
I didn’t grow up in the generation when she was most popular and was introduced to her in AHS. I watched all 4 seasons she was in and was blown away by her. She/her characters were my favorite parts of the series. Sad she’s no longer in it. She played every character so well!