From James Bond to ‘Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman’

Former Montecito resident Jane Seymour talks about her award-winning career

Editor’s note: This concludes a two-part series on award-winning movie and TV star Jane Seymour.

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

Jane Seymour remembers acting with a true Superman.

“That was an extraordinary experience,” Ms. Seymour said about starring with “Superman” star Christopher Reeve, whose superpowers included great acting, in “Somewhere In Time” (1980).

“First of all, it’s a beautiful movie. I loved it. I loved the script.”

And the former Montecito resident said the chemistry between her and Mr. Reeve, seen clearly in the romantic film involving time travel, continued until the day he died in 2004. “We adored each other, and that moment on the island where we made that film is one of those magic capsules in time. Everything about it was amazing.”

Ms. Seymour, 72, has had a life of amazing experiences and successes, from the James Bond movie “Live and Let Die” to the popular CBS series “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.”

She talked to the News-Press in advance of her keynote address at the Alzheimer’s Women’s Initiative Inspire Luncheon: Brain Matters, set for 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. April 26 at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront, 633 E. Cabrillo Blvd.

Ms. Seymour, who was born in Uxbridge, England, discussed her award-winning acting career during a Zoom call from Dublin. That’s where she’s starring as the title character of “Harry Wild,” a series. It airs in America on Acorn TV and is seen around the world, and Ms. Seymour said she was excited about filming the second and third seasons.

“I play a retired English professor who solves crimes, using her knowledge of books,” she said.

“Harry Wild” is a murder mystery series with a lot of humor, Ms. Seymour said. She noted that her character, Harry Wild, solves crimes that her son the detective, Charlie Wild (Kevin J. Ryan), can’t figure out. She said Harry’s sidekick, Fergus Reid (Rohan Nedd), is a young kid “who’s too smart to go to school.”

“It’s very fun. It’s very comedic, and people are absolutely loving it,” Ms. Seymour said. “I love playing it.”

Ms. Seymour talked about what got her started on the road to entertainment.

“Well, when I was a kid, I had two things wrong with me that they immediately diagnosed,” she told the News-Press. “One was I had a speech impediment, and the other was I had flat feet. So my parents, who didn’t have very much money, put me in a dance class.”

Ms. Seymour ended up dancing with a ballet company.

She went on to explain that her speech impediment was difficulty in pronouncing the sound of “r.”

“I had speech therapy for it, and I ended up playing Americans rather convincingly because — I don’t know if you realize it — all you do is roll your r’s all the time (for an American accent).”

She attended ballet school and drama school.

“The next thing I knew I was dancing and singing in a movie and had one line, and I got spotted by the top agent in England,” Ms. Seymour said.

“You know, I had a lot of success very quickly, then I realized I had a lot to learn,” she said.

Her early success included playing Solitaire, a young virgin woman with psychic powers in her mastery of tarot cards, in the first movie starring Roger Moore as James Bond, “Live and Let

6 p.m. to 10 p.m.: The Isla Vista Juggling Festival takes place with open juggling at the UCSB Multi-Activity Court. The festival runs today through Sunday. For more about the festival, visit sbjuggle.org. The festival is a fundraiser for Standing Together to End Sexual Assault. For more information, see sbstesa.org.

8 p.m. Sō Percussion with Caroline Shaw will perform at UCSB Campbell Hall. Pulitzer Prize-winner Caroline Shaw joins Sō Percussion as vocalist for 10 songs she co-composed with the quartet members. Tickets are $20 to $35 for the general public and $10 for UCSB students with current student ID. TO purchase, call Arts & Lectures at 805-893-3535 or go to www. artsandlecturesucsb.edu.

APRIL 22

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: The Isla Vista Juggling Festival takes place with open juggling at the UCSB Multi-Activity Court. The festival runs today through Sunday. For more about the festival, visit sbjuggle.org. The festival is a fundraiser for Standing Together to End Sexual Assault. For more information, see sbstesa.org.

10 a.m. to noon. A Rolled Paper Picture Frame workshop will take place at the Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. The Isla Vista Juggling Festival presents its public show at the Isla Vista Theater, 960 Embarcadero del Norte, Isla Vista.

10 p.m. to midnight. Glow toys will be juggled during the Isla Vista Juggling Festival at People’s Park on Embarcadero del Norte, Isla Vista.

APRIL 23

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: The Isla Vista Juggling Festival takes place with open juggling at the UCSB Multi-Activity Court. The festival runs today through Sunday. For more about the festival, visit sbjuggle.org. The festival is a fundraiser for Standing Together to End Sexual Assault. For more information, see sbstesa.org.

7 p.m. Artemis, an international jazz ensemble made up of six women, will perform at UCSB Campbell Hall. The ensemble consists of pianist and musical director Renee Rosnes, trumpeter Ingrid Jenson, tenor saxophonist Nicole Glover, alto saxophonist and flutist Alexa Tarantino, bassist Norike Ueda and drummer Allison Miller. Artemis’ music ranges from modern compositions to jazz classics by Thelonious Monk, Lee Morgan and Wayne Shorter. Audience members may arrive early at 4 p.m. for a free Q&A and behind-the-scenes open sound check. Register at thematiclearning.org/2022-2023.Elubia’s Kitchen will be serving dinner before the show from 5 to 7 P.M., outside of the event. Tickets range from $30 to $45 for the general public and are $15 for UCSB students who show a current student ID. To purchase, go to www. artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.

Please see CALENDAR on B2