Jessica Lange Opens Up About Retirement and Her Passion Project Film

Jessica Lange recently addressed the possibility of retirement and reflected on her storied career during an appearance at the Virginia Film Festival. The 77-year-old legendary stage and screen actress was honored with the festival's Visionary Award and discussed her journey while recording an episode of The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast.

Discussing the natural progression of aging in the entertainment industry, Lange noted that actors often age out of various roles over time. When broaching the subject of retirement, she shared a thoughtful perspective on how she might want to conclude her acting path. She stated that she wouldn't mind finishing her career with the character of Mary Tyrone, the protagonist of Eugene O'Neill's classic work Long Day's Journey Into Night. Explaining her deep connection to the role, she expressed that she would fully embrace ending on that note because she believes there is no greater part she will ever play.

Lange also looked back on the dramatic trajectory of her professional life, recalling how she was discovered while working part-time as a model and cast in producer Dino De Laurentiis’s 1976 remake of King Kong. Despite receiving massive publicity and landing a TIME magazine cover, the film became a major box-office flop that severely damaged her self-confidence and nearly derailed her career before it truly began. Slowly rebuilding her path, she earned a notable supporting turn in Bob Fosse’s All That Jazz in 1979, followed by powerful lead performances in films like The Postman Always Rings Twice and Frances.

As she entered her forties and balanced motherhood, Lange experienced a mid-career malaise that led to working less frequently and accepting fewer inspiring projects. That professional slowdown shifted significantly when she starred in the HBO limited series Grey Gardens in 2009, earning an Emmy Award. That success sparked a fruitful collaboration with producer Ryan Murphy, leading to prominent roles across four seasons of the hit anthology television series American Horror Story.

No artistic endeavor has captivated her quite as much as playing Mary Tyrone, a role she first tackled on the London stage in 2000 to become the first American actress nominated for an Olivier Award, later reprising it on Broadway. For much of the past decade, she dedicated herself to adapting the play for the big screen, following the famous 1962 film version starring Katharine Hepburn. Bringing the project to fruition involved immense behind-the-scenes drama, including financing that collapsed multiple times even after cast and crew were already gathered on set in Ireland.

Looking back at the endurance required to complete her cinematic passion project and her ongoing presence in both film and television, Lange continues to demonstrate the resilience that defined her decades-long career.