Former Bond girl Jane Seymour danced her way back into the hearts of fans on Dancing with the Stars. Her hidden talents continue to amaze with her artwork and Jane Seymour: A One Woman Show in Schaumburg this December.
Windy City Times: Hello, Jane. Tell us about your art show that is coming to town.
Jane Seymour: There will be about 18 pieces including sculptures at the Wentworth show. I have watercolors, pastels, oils and acrylics.
WCT: I didn't know that you did sculpture.
JANE SEYMOUR: Yes, it is a very wide range of subject matter and style, which usually surprises people. I have the Open Hearts collection of course that is based on the art. This is the original inception of the art before it became jewelry. It is now at Kay Jewelers and Jarretts. The original bronze sculptures, the original paintings, all those pieces will be available at Wentworth.
WCT: Did you always want to create art?
JANE SEYMOUR: It was something that I loved when I was a kid. You are good at some things and really stink at others. I stunk at math. [ Laughs ] I wasn't particularly good at the gym. I preferred ballet and art. When I was in school at a performing arts high school we had a really great art department. I didn't pursue it because I was an actress and working. I just designed and did art for my own satisfaction over the years.
WCT: So what brought you back to into it?
JANE SEYMOUR: About 19 years ago I went through a terrible divorce. It was at the height of my career. I made so many movies and thought I was happily married to one of the top financial advisors in Hollywood and had two children and a stepchild. I found that literally the bottom fell out of my life. Everything I thought was true was not. He got me nine million or more in debt and lawsuits from every major bank and the whole thing was a disaster. I found that when I painted that I went into another world. I found serenity. I found peace. I painted the place that I wanted to live. I became completely addicted to it. I couldn't stop painting or drawing. It helped me immensely with my troubles. I found myself fortunate enough to get Dr. Quinn. When I was on that the crew realized that I was calmer when I was painting so they made an art table for me. I painted my way through Dr. Quinn.
WCT: It was medicine for the medicine woman.
JANE SEYMOUR: It was therapy for me and I never imagined it would become my career. Not long after that I was commissioned to do a painting for Discover card for a Make-A-Wish Foundation. They showed my original art of it at the Guggenheim. I am the official artist for the Olympics for a campaign called Compete With an Open Heart. I use my painting to send a message out there. People that come to the show say that my paintings are very uplifting and healing, no dark angry paintings there. If you are looking for looking for plain black with slashes in it, wrong place.
WCT: What artists inspire you?
JANE SEYMOUR: I am constantly seeing painters whose art I really like. I love Impressionism. When I want art for my home, my heart belongs with the Impressionist era.
WCT: Do you miss your Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman days?
JANE SEYMOUR: You know, I still work with some of the people that were on Dr. Quinn so the relationships then continue to this day. I still see Joe Lando, who, you know, is from Chicago. He is still a very good friend of mine. When I made that show I didn't have time to watch it when I was working eighteen hour days. When I was in hotel rooms afterwards I would stumble upon it and go that was really good! I am really proud to have been a part of it for seven years. Can you believe that?
WCT: Wow. My roommate from college, Michael Rosenbaum, was on seven seasons of the WB's Smallville playing Lex Luthor. You did some guest appearances on that show.
JANE SEYMOUR: He became my buddy. I never got to meet Superman. I did all my scenes with Michael. He is quite a character and a very good actor.
WCT: Yes he is. Tell me about the fifth season of Dancing with the Stars.
JANE SEYMOUR: It was a transformational experience. You just make a bond with those people. I came back to visit the other day. You really go through a boot camp that is unbelievable. I am used to the camera but it is a whole other thing to go out there wearing next to nothing, doing something you don't know how to do, live and in high heels! When I did it I was the oldest and the only one with a major back issue. I got to the last five, which was quite extraordinary. The good news is that my back has never hurt since. I loved that experience. There comes a time in life that you do things that you have always wanted to do.
WCT: You have several projects coming out.
JANE SEYMOUR: I do. I have four movies in the can. One is called Wake. Another is called The Assistants, which is showing at the film festivals. Freeloaders I just did my finishing touches to yesterday, with Adam Duritz from Counting Crows. Driving Lessons is the last one that I have not seen yet. I produced a movie with my husband that I am really excited about called Waiting for Forever starring Tom Sturridge, who is in this Pirate Radio movie. We also produced Walk the Line, the Johnny Cash movie.
WCT: You named your twins after Johnny Cash and Christopher Reeve?
JANE SEYMOUR: Yes. Johnny and June were our very close friends. Johnny asked us to make Walk the Line. He didn't trust anyone in Hollywood but he trusted us. After trying to convince the studio for years to make the movie, we had the last laugh.
WCT: Definitely. Johnny and his family went to my church in Tennessee, which was in the movie. It was a very accurate portrayal. So, you also have the Quitter Show?
JANE SEYMOUR: It is a Web-based television show. We have made three episodes. I heard you can Twitter to go to it. My daughter co-wrote it. I play the mother.
WCT: How can people keep up with all this? Do you have a Web site?
JANE SEYMOUR: Yes I do, janeseymour.com . I also have a brand new one that I am really excited about called keepanopenheart.com . This is a Web site where people have overcome adversity by opening their hearts which has helped them immeasurably. This is the reason I am doing art at all.
Seymour will be making appearances with her art Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 5 at 5 p.m. at the Wentworth Gallery in Schaumburg's Woodfield Mall. For more information go to ww.wentworthgallery.com or call 800-732-6140.