Jane Seymour, the talented actress known for her roles in films such as “Live And Let Die” and TV shows like “Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman,” recently opened up about some of the most awkward moments and significant achievements in her career.
In an exclusive interview, Seymour shared anecdotes that shed light on her journey from being an outsider to becoming a successful actress.
Born Joyce Frankenberg, Seymour changed her name at the age of 17 upon the advice of her agent.
He believed that her original name was too long, foreign-sounding, and difficult to spell.
Reflecting on her early years, Seymour mentioned that there were no television shows about Henry VIII during that time, so nobody would have made the connection with her chosen stage name.
When asked about her earliest memory, Seymour vividly recalled the day her youngest sister, Annie, was born.
Coincidentally, on the same day, her doll had broken, and her father took it to the hospital, assuring her that the nurses would fix it.
To her surprise, when Seymour visited her newborn sister, she found her doll fully repaired in a cot next to Annie.
This incident led her to believe that dolls were actually repaired at hospitals for many years.
Describing her childhood, Seymour revealed that she felt like an outsider.
Despite her desire to become a dancer, she was born with flat feet and had to attend classes to learn how to walk properly.
During these classes, she experienced ostracism and bullying, earning her the nickname “Weed” after a character from The Flowerpot Men.
Additionally, Seymour had to undergo special speech therapy to correct her inability to pronounce the letter R, which further subjected her to teasing.
One of Seymour’s most notable achievements was landing a role in the BBC drama The Onedin Line in the early 1970s.
This opportunity proved to be life-changing as it directly led to her iconic role as Solitaire in “Live And Let Die.”
Interestingly, she shared a memorable anecdote from filming the love scene with Roger Moore.
The scene required numerous retakes, and during one of the breaks, Seymour actually fell asleep.
It wasn’t until they were ready to resume shooting that someone woke her up and handed her a cup of tea.
A photo capturing Seymour and Moore sipping tea in bed serves as a humorous reminder of that moment.
However, not all moments in Seymour’s career were filled with triumph.
She candidly discussed her biggest regret, which involved her third husband, David Flynn.
Not only had he cheated on her, but he also mismanaged her finances, leading her to the brink of bankruptcy.
In dire need of money to support her children, Seymour reached out to her agent and expressed her willingness to accept any work.
This is when the opportunity to star in the TV show “Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman” came along, ultimately helping her overcome her financial struggles.
Recalling the worst thing anyone has ever done to her, Seymour mentioned an incident during her time in the original production of Amadeus on Broadway.
Shortly after discovering she was pregnant, she excitedly shared the news with the cast and crew.
However, the following day, she found someone else occupying her dressing room, indicating that she was being fired for her pregnancy.
The incident shocked Seymour, highlighting the discrimination she faced at that time.
When asked about her most embarrassing moment, Seymour recounted a screen test for the film “The Thorn Birds” with Richard Chamberlain.
Having just given birth, Seymour’s bre-sts were engorged with milk.
Despite attempts to bind them up, her bre-st milk started leaking during rehearsal, drenching Chamberlain’s chest.
The situation was truly mortifying, causing Seymour to laugh, cry, and hastily leave the set.
Although she apologized profusely, the incident resulted in Rachel Ward securing the role of Meggie.
Seymour’s most treasured possession is a book that her mother kept during her time in Japanese concentration camps during World War II.
Despite the harrowing conditions and three-and-a-half years of suffering, Seymour’s mother managed to smuggle the book into the camp, using it as an outlet for her drawings and writings.
This book holds immense sentimental value for Seymour as it represents her mother’s resilience and survival.
Recounting the best night of her life, Seymour spoke about winning an Emmy for her portrayal of opera singer Maria Callas in the movie “Onassis: The Richest Man In The World.”
However, this achievement almost came at a great cost.
During filming, she contracted severe bronchitis and required a high dose of antibiotics.
Unfortunately, when a male nurse attempted to administer the injection, he accidentally hit an artery.
Seymour experienced anaphylactic shock and lost consciousness, coming dangerously close to death.
Fortunately, she was resuscitated, but the experience left a lasting impact on her.
As the interview drew to a close, Seymour revealed a secret about herself.
She disclosed that her stage name, Jane Seymour, was chosen by her agent’s nephew after Henry VIII’s third wife.
At the time, there were no television shows centered around Henry or his wives, so they believed nobody would notice.
However, with the proliferation of such shows today, the connection has become more apparent, prompting people to point it out to her.
Wrapping up the conversation, Seymour spoke about her brief n^de appearance in the film “Lassiter” alongside Tom Selleck.
Initially hesitant, she agreed to the scene after being assured that the camera would only capture her from behind.
