One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Jessica Lange Calling It a Career?
Actors Kathy Bates and Jessica Lange attend the Premiere Of FX's 'American Horror Story: Coven' after party at Fig & Olive Melrose Place on October 5, 2013 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
She's been Frances Farmer, Blanche DuBois and "Big" Edie Bouvier. She's won two Oscars, two Emmys and five Golden Globe awards. After a career that started in the 1970's, actress Jessica Lange might see retirement in her horizon.
"I am coming to the end of acting," she says with sureness. "I have a list: another stage production, maybe one or two more movies, one more season of "American Horror Story" ... and then that is it for me. Because I think that's enough. I want to go out with a bang ... or should I say, a scare?"
Lange first film role was 1976's King Kong where she won the Golden Globe for new actress of the year. Her first Oscar came as best supporting actress in 1982's Tootsie, the same year she was nominated for best actress in Frances for her portrayal of actress Frances Farmer.
She won her second Oscar in 1994 for Blue Sky, a film that was almost never released thanks to the 1991 bankruptcy of Orion Pictures.
Lange told the Times that American Horror Story helped revitalize her career. "There's no shame in recognizing that. It's exposed me to a whole new generation, which is a little strange. I'm not used to young people thinking I'm cool."
Lange also admitted that sometimes the people she portrays can bleed into her life.
"I remember when I was doing 'Frances,' I let her get so deep under my skin that it actually felt like a haunting," she told the Times. "And when I did Blanche DuBois for the first time, I think my kids were worried about me. The deeper you go, the more they settle in and it's harder to pull away. I used to soak in a hot tub for hours in the dark, just like Blanche."
Sponsored message
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
