Academy Award winner Glenn Close is turning 77 years old, with a reputation as one of the most accomplished actresses for her roles in the movies “Fatal Attraction,” “Dangerous Liaisons,” and “The Wife” among others. This year she stars in the new Netflix film “Back in Action,” releasing January 17. Close recently sat down with Marc Myers.
As a kid, I had a thing for fairy tales, especially the spooky ones. I’d listening to my mom read them to me by placing my ear on her chest, and the way her voice hummed was sort of mesmerizing – the words totally came alive, and they still really get under my skin.
My imagination was incredibly vivid even back when I was a kid. Stories about kids looking into darkness were pretty relatable for me until around age 23.
My earliest home was a picturesque stone cottage surrounded by lush foliage, with a classic white picket fence, located on the estate of my maternal grandfather in Greenwich, Connecticut.
The time we spent there was the happiest part of my childhood. It was right in the middle of big fields of hay, and there was a barn where we would play. I also spent hours playing in the woods and at home with hand puppets, letting my imagination run wild.
My father, Dr. William, was a medical professional who had served in the US Army Air Forces during World War II in France. Following his return, he pursued his medical degree through the GI Bill educational benefits. My mother, Bettine, was a caregiver who took on homemaking responsibilities.
I come from a family with four siblings, including two brothers and two sisters. Tina is the eldest, and then there’s me, followed by a brother who didn’t make it, then my siblings Sandy and Jessie, who is the youngest.
I still vividly remember the year I turned 7, which was 1954 – it was a pivotal point in my life. My parents became involved with Moral Re-Armament, an organization that, in essence, preached a sort of redemption and spiritual renewal for individuals in the aftermath of World War II.
We resided together at Dellwood, a 277-acre farm located in Mount Kisco, New York. It was the property of Emily Vanderbilt Sloane, which she generously donated to MRA in 1949.
While visiting with them, my parents often embarked on extended periods away on United Nations peacekeeping missions across the globe. I felt a deep sense of insecurity at being frequently left behind. Instead of our parents, we were cared for by teenage girls who seemed to be assigned to us as a form of disciplinary measure.
In 1960, my father was part of a mission to the newly independent former Belgian Congo for MRA. We relocated to MRA’s headquarters in Switzerland, where I attended St. George’s School with my sister Tina. It was a challenging period for everyone.
After moving back to Greenwich, I attended the all-girls private prep school, Rosemary Hall. I was actively involved in the school’s drama club and every year we staged an all-girls production of a Shakespeare play. During my senior year, I took on the male lead role of Romeo.
Throughout my time in school and after graduating in 1965, I remained affiliated with the MRA. When my parents were away, I joined a singing group that was a part of the MRA, and we traveled to attract new followers. I had nothing at hand to reject the lifestyle.
In 1969, a talented guitarist from our singing group proposed to me, asking for my hand in marriage. I accepted, which caused me to stay with the group, Musical Rag Players Association, a bit longer. On college campuses, our group would often perform at the student union, singing popular Musical Rag Players Association songs.
At William & Mary in 1970, people looked at me like I was out of my mind when I told them I wanted to attend the school. I said to myself, “This is where I want to go to college for an education.” Turning 23, I enrolled, freshly separated from MRA due to a breakup with a guitarist boyfriend the following year.
My first true mentor, Howard Scammon, who led the drama department, grasped the sincerity of my goals.
Letting my emotions shine wasn’t hard to do. Bringing a character to life is mostly about imagining things. I had a lot of that going on. The technical side of it is just about using my common sense. And any art that’s truly meaningful stems from a sense of outrage. I make no secret of that.
I remember watching an interview with actress Katharine Hepburn on Dick Cavett’s TV show way back in college. Her confidence and strong personality left a lasting impression, and I told myself, “If that’s a goal you want to achieve, take the leap and do it.”
In the autumn of 1974, right after I graduated, I landed a job with New York’s New Phoenix Repertory Company to serve as the understudy for Mary Ure in the play ‘Love for Love.’ Mary was an attractive and highly skilled actress, but she struggled with remembering her lines in the days leading up to our scheduled move from Philadelphia to New York.
During our performances leading up to the opening night of our Broadway show, I arrived at the old Helen Hayes Theatre, where I was approached by director Hal Prince who kindly asked me to fill in for an actress. In the dressing room, I found a note from Mary waiting for me.
She said, “In the English theater, it’s a custom for a lead actress to usher in the next generation. I’m honored to welcome you. Be courageous and resolute.” I’m getting choked up just thinking about it.
That evening, I managed to deliver a successful performance, and from that point forward, I was highly motivated to demonstrate that it wasn’t just a one-time success.
Currently, I reside in Bozeman, Montana. All of my siblings also live in this area. My humble, 1892-brick house has a porch that offers me a view of the mountains, allowing me the chance to greet my neighbors.
I’m constructing a larger residence roughly 30 minutes from the city. It’s turning out to be my haven, a “Zen farmhouse,” where my family can unwind and recharge. At the rear of the property will be a cozy stone cottage that’s reminiscent of the happiest memories from my youth.
Glenn’s Closure
I star in an action comedy where I’m a retired British spy, and the mother of Cameron Diaz’s character, who is a former CIA operative.
She sent me a heartfelt message after I helped her get honored at the Kennedy Center in 1990: “A huge thank you for your wonderful contribution. I’m glad I convinced you back when you were just a kid to get into this difficult but incredibly rewarding career.”
I’m a huge bookworm. From a young age, I was always curled up witha good read.
When I see a script, I obscure all the action directions. As I read, my mind creates a mental picture of the scene, and any line that isn’t a character’s dialogue causes a brief pause or distraction.
The prop cardboard knife hanging on my wall, it looks like a real one, doesn’t it?
