Jessica Lange recently addressed the possibility of retiring from acting during an appearance at the Virginia Film Festival. The 77 year old actress was there to receive the festival's Visionary Award and to showcase her newest project, a big screen adaptation of Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey Into Night. Speaking on The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast, Lange noted that aging often limits the roles available to actors. However, she expressed a willingness to conclude her career with the character of Mary Tyrone, describing the morphine addicted matriarch as the greatest part she will ever play.
Lange is one of only 24 individuals in history to win the triple crown of acting, which requires at least one Oscar, one Emmy, and one Tony. She is also one of only 10 living recipients of this distinction. Her career spans five decades, having begun after she was discovered while working part time as a model. Producer Dino De Laurentiis cast her in his 1976 remake of King Kong, a role that initially generated significant publicity, including a cover feature in TIME magazine.
Despite the initial attention, the King Kong film became a major box office failure. Lange recalled that this experience nearly derailed her early career and deeply affected her self confidence. She eventually rebuilt her reputation through a series of acclaimed performances. Notable works from this period include a supporting role in Bob Fosse's All That Jazz in 1979 and lead roles in films such as The Postman Always Rings Twice, Frances, and Tootsie in the early 1980s. Her performance in Tootsie earned her first Academy Award.
Following her initial success, Lange continued to secure prominent roles in films including Country, Sweet Dreams, Crimes of the Heart, Music Box, Cape Fear, and Blue Sky. The latter film earned her second Oscar win. However, as she entered her forties and became a mother, she experienced a period of reduced activity. For several years, she took on fewer projects and often accepted supporting parts that did not fully engage her creatively.
Her trajectory changed significantly with the 2009 HBO limited series Grey Gardens, which earned her an Emmy. This project also marked the beginning of a long collaboration with producer Ryan Murphy. She subsequently starred in four seasons of the anthology series American Horror Story between 2011 and 2015, winning Emmys for two of those seasons. She also appeared in the 2017 limited series Feud: Bette and Joan.
The role of Mary Tyrone holds a special place in Lange's heart. She first portrayed the character on the London stage in 2000, becoming the first American actress to receive an Olivier Award nomination for the role. She later reprised the part on Broadway in 2016, winning a Tony Award. Over the past decade, she worked diligently to adapt the play for cinema, following the 1962 film version starring Katharine Hepburn.
The production process for the new film was fraught with challenges, including multiple instances where financing collapsed, even after the cast and crew had arrived in Ireland. Eventually, Lange collaborated with writer David Lindsay Abaire and director Jonathan Kent to complete the project. She expressed immense pride in the final result.
As the film begins its release in select theaters and at festivals, Lange is actively promoting the work. She has also recently returned to American Horror Story for its 13th season, which aired between September 24 and October 29. With these new projects, she is once again in contention for both an Oscar and an Emmy. For now, the veteran actress shows no signs of slowing down.
