Whatever Happened To Jane Seymour?
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For many of us, Jane Seymour is synonymous with her most famous role in Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. Even though that series ended back in the '90s, Jane Seymour continued to have a busy and varied Hollywood career. She also started several other endeavors outside of acting that you might not have heard about.
From rumors of a potential Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman reboot, to her brush with royalty when she met Queen Elizabeth II, Seymour's career has been anything but ordinary. Speaking to the Herald Tribune in 2018, Seymour explained, "Everyone says I'm supposed to do one thing and not another. I don't differentiate anything in my life, from my acting, my writing, my public speaking, my art, my design, my playing with my grandchildren. A good day for me is when I've been creative."
Her many projects have taken her all over the world, and have proven that her talents are far from singular. Here's everything you need to know about what happened to Jane Seymour.
Dr. Quinn, Comedy Woman?
You might think you haven't seen Seymour in anything other classic '90s series Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, but you're probably mistaken. In fact, since then, Seymour secured guest roles in a whole host of popular television shows, and her career shows no signs of slowing down. From appearances in fan favorites like How I Met Your Mother, Smallville, Jane the Virgin, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Castle, to an impressive stint on Dancing with the Stars, Seymour continues to prove that she's a versatile performer. Over the years, she also proved her ability to take on new and unusual parts, including those that showcased her talent for comedy, like her surprise appearances in movies like Wedding Crashers and Fifty Shades of Black. Of course, it's also impossible to forget her turn as a Bond girl in 1973's Live and Let Die.
Seymour won two Golden Globes during her career — one in 1996 for Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, and one in 1982 for East of Eden — and she took home an Emmy in 1988 for her performance in Onassis: The Richest Man in the World. Basically, Seymour might be known for the role she made famous in the '90s, but it's far from the only thing she's done.
A nod from the Queen
British actress Jane Seymour's impressive career has not gone unnoticed. In fact, even Queen Elizabeth II recognized Seymour's talents and contributions to the arts, and awarded her with a coveted Officer of the British Empire (OBE) accolade in the year 2000. As the BBC noted, an OBE is "the second highest ranking Order of the British Empire award, behind CBE (Commander) but ahead of MBE (Member). ... It is awarded to someone for making a great impact in their line of work." The fact that Seymour's performances in TV shows and movies have been seen around the globe makes her more than eligible for and deserving of the Queen's honor.
Of receiving the accolade, Seymour said (via The Globe & Mail), "This will be a day to remember." She was presented with the award at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London, "then celebrated with a spin on London's giant new Millennium Wheel and a Thames boat party." Along with her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Seymour's impact on the world of entertainment is undeniable, and it's somewhat surprising she hasn't been recognized more often.
She has 'a very cool life'
Acting isn't Jane Seymour's only creative outlet. The actress moved into painting, and regularly exhibits and sells her artwork around the globe. She told HuffPost in 2013, "At first I was concerned that people wouldn't accept me as an artist when I was known as an actress, but my first four paintings were sold to a collector that wanted them and had no interest in my other career."
In 2018, Seymour spoke to Naples Daily News about becoming an artist. Working out of her home studio, Seymour said, "It's beyond a hobby to me. It's an obsession." And just as she's built a varied and enviable acting career, Seymour's approach to art spans several mediums. "I do everything that I do for pleasure," she revealed to the outlet, adding, "I love painting, I love designing. I love traveling, I love acting, I love producing. I have a very cool life."
Seymour even had an impressive sculpture of an open heart unveiled in Bradenton, Florida, and was thrilled to see her work on display in such a prominent location. Taking pride of the work's place on the Bradenton Riverwalk, Seymour hopes that visitors "stop and think a moment about what an open heart means" when they see her creation. The actress told the Herald Tribune that she was "overwhelmed that I've had the privilege to make all this happen."
You can add prolific author to her resume, too
As if being an actress-turned-painter wasn't impressive enough, Jane Seymour is also an accomplished writer who's released numerous books throughout her life. Her 2017 release, The Road Ahead: Inspirational Stories of Open Hearts and Minds, "shares inspirational stories from readers around the world who've overcome when the 'happily ever after' — isn't." In the volume, Seymour encourages readers to forge ahead and overcome any trials and tribulations in their lives by practicing "acceptance," "unconditional forgiveness," and "selfless acts of kindness," according to publisher Simon & Schuster. Her positive outlook on life is truly inspiring, and it's easy to see how she generated a fanbase of loyal readers.
A quick look at Seymour's official website reveals she's also released several books about her life, including Making Yourself at Home: Finding You Creativity, which focuses on developing a new hobby and finding therapy in art. Two at a Time: Having Twins documented Seymour's experience raising her twin boys, John and Kristopher. The multi-hyphenate star also developed a collection of books called the Open Hearts series, in which she explores spirituality and enlightenment.
Fifth time's a charm
Jane Seymour confirmed her newfound happiness, having fallen in love with director David Green, in an interview with The Scotsman in 2015. She opened up saying, "Falling in love again is especially sweet at my age — it's like a whole new world. It's so nice at this time in my life to find someone with whom I have so much in common." Seymour — who had previously been married four times — also explained that she hadn't been looking for a new partner when her relationship started: "It was totally unexpected as I certainly wasn't looking for romance, but I'm very happy it's happened."
Seymour revealed to The Telegraph in 2016 how she met Green, saying, "it was one of those lunches where you realize you could talk together for the rest of your life." Their palpable connection endured, causing Seymour to think of Green as her life partner: "We work very well together. We both like to work hard, have our own careers, children and exes who we care about enormously."
Paging Hollywood, Dr. Quinn is ready to suit back up
Jane Seymour understands the popularity of her biggest hit, and she'd happily return to the role under the right circumstances. Speaking to Profile by Buzzfeed News in 2018, the artist shared her enthusiasm for a potential Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman reboot. She said, "They brought back absolutely everything. I have no idea why they wouldn't bring this back," adding that the series is "still playing almost every day in 98 countries," proving that there's a very real demand for new episodes.
The Wedding Crashers co-star also thinks that a reboot would be particularly relevant in today's political culture. "It's a great way of teaching history and morality and choices and different cultures and different thoughts and different ways of choosing to do things in life," she told Profile. "It's so relevant to today, could not be more relevant, because it was all about people, the immigration into America. It was early America." In 2014, Seymour made a parody of the hit show with Funny or Die, the aptly-titled Dr. Quinn, Morphine Woman, which only further fueled fan desire for a reboot.
She took a stand against sexual harassment
In solidarity with the Me Too movement, Jane Seymour revealed that she was a victim of sexual harassment during her career in the entertainment industry. Speaking to Playboy about the incident (via TIME), Seymour revealed that she was invited to an important producer's house to screen test for a role. The producer allegedly told her, "I've persuaded everyone that you are the perfect person to play this role. It wasn't easy. Now it's your turn." She didn't name the person responsible for the harassment, but explained that he'd touched her leg "in the wrong place." She rebutted the advances and left — but not before he made a verbal threat. She also discussed the incident on Megyn Kelly Today, explaining that "this guy was the single most powerful man in Hollywood at the time," but has since passed away.
As she told Playboy, "He put me in a car and said, 'If anyone knows you ever came here, if you ever tell anyone, ever, I'll guarantee you never work again anywhere on the planet. And he had that power." The scary incident almost made Seymour quit her acting career altogether. "The only reason I've ever told that story is that women should have a choice," Seymour added.
She made history ... for Playboy
In March 2018, Jane Seymour shared the news on Instagram that she "was recently photographed and interviewed in my home by Playboy. I open up about my career, my family, feeling better-than-ever at 67." Fans were understandably excited to see Seymour's chic photo shoot, especially as she explained all about the appreciation she has for her body now that she's in her sixties. Rather than lamenting getting older, she encouraged people everywhere to value life and the continued chances we all get to enjoy it.
The Mirror reported that Seymour is the "oldest woman ever to pose for Playboy" — an accolade she was excited to comment about. Speaking to Playboy about the opportunity, the Smallville guest star said, "I feel much sexier now that I did when I was younger. I'm comfortable in my own skin." Seymour also pointed out that she appreciated her varied career, and the fact that her age hadn't hindered her work prospects saying, "There's an enormous freedom in having lived as long as I have. I mean, usually you're invisible by this age! I'm not trying to prove anything to anyone."
Helping others is a family tradition
Jane Seymour founded the Open Hearts Foundation, which according to its mission statement is "a social impact accelerator that works to highlight and grow new and emerging nonprofit organizations." The Golden Globe winner was inspired by her mother's experiences "as a survivor of a Japanese internment camp during World War II," to start the foundation so that she could help other people. Seymour's mother, Mieke Frankenberg, "survived three and a half horrific years" in the internment camp "by caring for fellow prisoners who were far worse off than she was. Focusing her energy on serving others under the most difficult circumstances was the only way she survived." Her mother's epic kindness in the face of unfathomable horror drove Seymour to develop her own philanthropic spirit.
The actress is also a celebrity ambassador for Childhelp, a national non-profit organization dedicated to helping victims of child abuse and neglect. Speaking at an event in 2018, Seymour explained her passion for philanthropy (via The Ledger) saying, "I love being a volunteer. I think it is the greatest gift a human being can give to themselves to know that you have done something uniquely to make a difference to others."
British born, American made
Jane Seymour took part in the family heritage exploration series, Who Do You Think You Are? in 2015. Of course, her episode of the show revealed to fans who didn't already know that the actress was actually born as Joyce Penelope Wilhelmina Frankenberg on February 15, 1951. She changed her name upon the advice of her agent when she was pursuing an acting career. Seymour's mother was from Holland, while her father was from a Jewish family in Poland. On the show, Seymour explained that revisiting her family history was so important to her (via The Telegraph) saying, "I really care about memories."
Having lived in the United States since 1976, Seymour officially became a US citizen in 2005. One of her then-nine-year-old twin sons celebrated the special moment saying (via USA Today), "She's not an alien anymore." Seymour was similarly excited about becoming an American citizen, telling the outlet, "I've realized that I've been living here longer than in my home country. America has given me unbelievable opportunities. I realized that with the US elections I wanted to vote and I couldn't. I felt the time had come to participate more fully."