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Home , Glenn Close

IN CONVERSATION ■

ctress Glenn Close has been one of our most known since I started as an actress. We’ve watchable stars over nearly four decades. gone through thick and thin, and you have this wonderful history. It means a lot. Ageing is Her role playing an obsessed mistress in with first My family is more and more important a fact of life. propelled her into the spotlight and she went to me. My siblings all live in Montana. Embrace it, on to appear in a string of hits, including I have a little brick house there, right and 101 Dalmatians. across the yard from my sister Jessie, and it’s fabulous! it’s just so wonderful. I love being there Now 71, she’s been nominated for an and try to go at least once a year. Oscar an astonishing six times – but has never actually won. But her A Right now I have a shock of white hair. performance in The Wife – hailed by insiders as her best yet – could change that. Based on ’s book of the same name, she I grew out my hair because I was so tired of all the maintenance. I’m in very good plays Joan Castleman, who’s married to a Nobel Prize-winning author company when I think of Dame Judi played by . As the film unfolds, it becomes clear that Dench and Dame ! Ageing is Joan has sacrificed her own writing career to support her husband a fact of life, right? It’s something to get and raise a family. It is only when the pair travel to the Nobel Prize used to. I’ve noticed that my skin is now award ceremony that tensions boil as she considers the choices she getting to be that old-lady skin and at first you think, ‘Oh, my god, this is so awful,’ but has made. In real life, Glenn Close is currently single and has one what is the alternative? Now I think, ‘Just grown-up daughter, Annie Starke. embrace it, it’s fabulous!’ What are you going to do? Liposuck your entire body? I’ve always been pretty picky with work. I try to do only things I am really intrigued I’ve definitely got more by and that I personally think are good. confidence as I’ve grown older, There are certain stories that really grab which is saying a lot. As an me, and certain stories that don’t. And I actress, people are looking at also try to not repeat emotional territory you all the time. It’s not easy to I’ve gone through before in a character, so I grow old in the eyes of the public. try to push myself to do something new. Glenn Close and Jonathan Pryce Humans need connection. star in The Wife Of course it would be wonderful to win an I never valued it as much as I do Oscar but I’ve been acting for a lot of years now, even, ironically, when I don’t without winning one so I’m glad my career have a partner. If you can forge doesn’t depend on it! I’d feel incredibly understand why she that kind of connection with gratified if it happened. To get that kind did what she did someone, it doesn’t matter what of recognition from your peers is very and why she didn’t sex they are. I think we’re so gratifying. It’s a tough business in many leave. I think it disconnected now because of all ways, so to be a survivor is a great feeling. became a study in these screens we’re looking at; Close is winning a complex marriage, plaudits for her role they do not forge real connections. My daughter and I worked together on about how you as Joan Castleman A real connection is when two The Wife, but because we play the same negotiate, and how eyes look into two eyes in the part, we weren’t actually on set together. In they had negotiated their lives. present. That’s the most powerful thing. fact, when she was doing her bits, I literally got out of town. I thought that would be a A happy home for me has a dog in it. I’ve I hate exercise. But my exercise of choice good thing! When I saw what she had done, always been a great believer that animals would be to go for a brisk walk. I think I was so proud of her; she’s so naturally teach you kindness, responsibility and also attitude in life has a lot to do with health. gifted. I wasn’t surprised when she told me they’re very comforting. A happy home When I get out of bed I think, ‘Don’t walk ‘Listen to the SONG of she was going into acting. My only hope for also has music in it, and good books. And like every bone in your body hurts,’ which her is that she has a wonderful life apart it’s somewhere you can be peaceful, where it actually doesn’t. I say to myself, ‘No, no, from acting. It’s a difficult profession, it can you can hear and listen to each other. no, get out of bed like you’re 25!’ entail a lot of separation, so I just wish her LIFE’ is my MANTRA a happy life with her husband. She’s just got Unconditional love and shared history is Over the fireplace in my dining room, married to a terrific guy. so important in friendships. My best I have something I read Katharine As critics rave about Glenn Close’s performance in her latest film, she talks friend is and my very first Hepburn had in her childhood home. Filming The Wife was a tricky one for me. job was understudying her in 1974. I’m It says: ‘Listen to the song of life’. That friendship, acting with her daughter and embracing her natural hair colour I did a lot of thinking about my character’s finding one of the great pleasures at this is my mantra. ◆ PHOTOGRAPHY BRIGITTE LACOMBE GRAEME HUNTER PICTURES PHOTOGRAPHY: ADDITIONAL JEN CROTHERS. WORDS: emotional journey so that I could really time in my life is having friends that I’ve The Wife is in cinemas from 28 September

goodhousekeeping.co.uk OCTOBER 2018 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 39