Jessica Lange made her on screen debut in 1967 and in the 57 years since then she’s put together an award-winning body of work like few other living actress.
But, at 75, she acknowledges that in all her years in Hollywood many things have changed but sexism and ageism against actresses has not.
In an interview with People, the Tony-nominee for Mother Play said the ‘idea of what happens to an actress in Hollywood at a certain age’ hasn’t changed much throughout her career.
‘Maybe it was more extreme back then in the ’40s and ’50s and ’60s,’ she said, referring to sexism and ageism in the film industry, ‘but it certainly hasn’t changed much.’
The Cape Fear actress – who looked sensational in a body-hugging dress at the 2024 Oscars – came to this realization when she was researching the life and career of legendary actress Joan Crawford for her role in Ryan Murphy’s Feud: Bette and Joan in 2017.
Jessica Lange made her on screen debut in 1967 and in the 57 years since then she’s put together an award-winning body of work like few other living actress, pictured here in 2024
But, at 75, she acknowledges that in all her years in Hollywood many things have changed but sexism and ageism against actresses has not, seen in King Kong 1967
Playing the late Crawford gave Lange an ‘extremely poignant’ perspective on how roles for women in Hollywood become scarce as they age.
What she realized is that actresses have been being unfairly judged from the time Crawford was filming in the 1930s and 1940s and that’s still the case today.
‘Once I started really looking into Joan Crawford’s history, where she came from and her experience in childhood and growing up, it was nightmarish,’ Lange told the outlet.
‘So the fact that she actually did what she was able to do in life, I found her incredibly admirable.’
And yet, there were so many very famous actresses who couldn’t find work when they were middle aged and older.
People like Bette Davis, ‘who had these amazing parts found themselves high and dry later when they were older… There are so many tragic stories of women who were so beautiful and couldn’t figure out a way to age within the system,’ Lange said.
Jessica credits her will for taking a career that started literally in the palm of King Kong’s hand to accolades including multiple Oscars, Emmys and a Tony.
She made feature film debut in Dino De Laurentiis’ blockbuster King Kong remake in 1967.
She realized is that actresses have been being unfairly judged from the time Joan Crawford was filming in the 1930s and 1940s and that’s still the case today, seen in Country 1984
In an interview with People, the Tony-nominee for Mother Play said the ‘idea of what happens to an actress in Hollywood at a certain age’ hasn’t changed much throughout her career, seen in Losing Isiah 1995
Maybe it was more extreme back then in the ’40s and ’50s and ’60s,’ she said, referring to sexism and ageism in the film industry, ‘but it certainly hasn’t changed much,’ seen in Cape Fear in 1991
The Cape Fear actress came to this realization when she was researching the life and career of legendary actress Joan Crawford for her role in Ryan Murphy ‘s Feud: Bette and Joan in 2017
‘I’ve always been extremely willful, and it’s not something I’m proud of, but I recognize it,’ Lange said.
‘Maybe it was good that I had no other experience, so I just did it,’ she recalls of her whirlwind introduction to Hollywood.
‘I just did it because I was naive and I didn’t know any different, I guess.’
The roles that inspire Lange the most, she said, are ‘women who are on the edge, maybe walking that emotional tightrope. Is it madness? Is it not? [That’s] the moment where my imagination is triggered and I think, “I want to do this.”‘
