KYRA SEDGWICK GREAT: OLDER WOMAN! RUBBISH

I finally succumbed to all the publicity about an over 40 woman being able to hold a wiz bang show on her own. As if this somehow shows that we are now entering an era where “older women” can be beautiful and talented. So this evening I watched Kyra Sedgwick in “The Closer” the most successful basic cable series of all time. Actually, I only caught about the last 2/3 of the show. I Like Kyra Sedgwick (I like her husband Kevin Bacon as well.) They are both fine actors and appear to be a couple who support each other—all too rare in Hollywood and in life. However, I fail to understand all the hoopla, not about the show, but about the fact that Ms. Sedgwick is over 40 (43 this August to be exact.) Ms Sedgwick does a fine job. She’s a very good actress who happens to play an appealing role. So she’s over 40?  Big deal. So are many others. If she is the example of an older attractive actress, we still have one helluva way to go.

http://www.tnt.tv/series/closer/

For example, what about Helen Mirren, Meryl Streep,  Dames Judie Dench and Maggie Smith, Olympia Dukakis and the seemingly eternal Angela Lansbury? These are all beautiful, talented women who happen to be way older than Ms. Sedwick and who are still going strong. Media misleads us if they try to push Kyra Sedgwick as an example of an older woman who has made good. She is a fine actress who hopefully a very long future ahead of her. But, call her an example of an older woman? It must be men in their twenties or “toy boys” who believe she is an example of “older”. Let’s give Kyra Sedgwick and her long running show their due. But, let’s be realistic about what we are talking about.

As a bit of irrelevant insiders’ useless information, I used to have a home in the The Berkshires. www.berkshires.org For those of you who are not native New Yorkers or long term city residents, I’ll let you in on a NY secret or at least a way of life. Those who reside in the city and have enough money tend to have a country place to escape to-small or large. Those who want to continue their rat race life and see and be seen tend to go to the Hamptons and other Long Island shore places. Those who want to kick back and live as normal a life as possible head for the hills; the Berkshires, even the Catskills but certainly not the Island.

Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick were spotted more that once at restaurants we frequented. I remember my kids wanting to get their autographs. “Sit” I insisted. Leave them be. They are here to be left alone. I have no doubt that both Bacon and Sedgwick in their jeans and Tee shirts would have been gracious to their young fans. At the same time, I think it was important to teach my kids and their friends that no matter who you are, even a “star” all they do is work at a job like most everyone else-albeit a high profile one.. And that even “stars” have a right to privacy.

At any rate, I liked Ms. Sedgwick in “The Closer.” Will I watch again? Only, if I happen to be around and have nothing else to do?  But will I become addicted? I doubt it.

Comments

[Jacqueline Wales]

The Closer is one of my favorite characters on TV. Not because she's an older woman, but because she's a woman with enormous strength and enormous vulnerability. Much like all of us. She's quirky, manipulative, and she gets the job done. Not all of these characteristics are necessarily good ones, but I must say to give a woman this amount of story to work with is refreshing.

I also agree with leave the celebrities alone. I lived in Los Angeles for many years. We rubbed shoulders in many ways. At the supermarket, in the restaurants, even getting ice cream at the local Baskin Robbins. Was it polite to gush over them.. No, it wasn't. You're absolutely right. They are doing jobs that give them high profiles,but we are not entitled to trample them when we see them. And yes, 99% of the time, they are just folks like us, getting on with life.