spotlight
Sharon
The SpiriT of
Gless
by bill biss
Whether you remember Sharon Gless from Cagney and Lacey, Queer as Folk or are just now enjoying her performance on
the popular Burn Notice on USA Network, her skills as an actress have been enjoyed by film, theatre and television audiences for over
twenty years. Gless is also a strong advocate for gay and lesbian rights and in her latest film role she portrays a lesbian woman by the
name of Hannah who is fighting for her rights to see her long time partner who has had a stroke. The kick is they are both in the same
nursing home and her partner’s family will not let her visit her long time love, Rachel. Through the use of flashbacks, the audience is
able to learn just what made their love so powerful over the past forty years as it is explored in the heartwarming and realistic film
called Hannah Free. Sharon Gless is refreshingly honest as she talks about her characterization in the film, her loyal gay and lesbian
audience, the early days on the Universal Studios lot as a contract player and Showtime’s landmark Queer as Folk.
The Rage Monthly: Hannah Free is a beautifully done film. What were your initial feel- took place about ten years ago, if you go time wise. It has to be that way be-
ings after reading the script by Claudia Allen? cause of the time she was living during the depression and so on. For a couple
Sharon Gless: Thank you. When she called me, I had actually done a play of of old women in this love affair that lasted at that time. Nothing’s changed!
hers for radio. Tyne Daley and I did one of her plays. I also did a play of hers on It’s the exact same problem that is going on right now…that people are not
stage. So, I knew her work and we had become friends by then. I knew what allowed to get married and people are not acknowledged as family or they
kind of women she wrote and how well she wrote them. She’s a multi-award- can’t be taken care of by the lover’s will. Hospitals won’t let them in unless
winning playwright in Chicago. She called me and said, “They’re turning they’re married.
one of my plays into a movie! You want to play it?” I said, “Sure!” And she said, Rage: I know. I didn’t know you were the granddaughter of Neil S. McCarthy [prominent
“Don’t you want to know which one it is?” I said, “Nope” (laughter). I knew how Hollywood lawyer for Howard Hughes, Louis B. Mayer and Cecil B. DeMille among others].
beautifully she wrote. It just worked out perfectly. We had 18 days in which to SG: I am. Did you know him?
shoot it and we did. Rage: (laughter) No. I just love old Hollywood and thought that was cool. And you were
Rage: Hannah is quite a character. one of the last people who were a contract player at Universal Studios?
SG: I loved doing that role. I tell you… it’s being accepted at gay and lesbian SG: I’m the last. I wasn’t the last to be signed. I was the last to leave the lot,
film festivals all over the world now. It was just shown in Ireland. It’s hard for which made me the last contract player in Hollywood. I was the last person to
me to watch myself. But, it’s not hard to watch this movie for some reason. walk off that lot. They ended the contract system in 1981 and they kept me to
There have been five festivals so far that I said I would go to and if you go, do a series to replace Lynn Redgrave called House Calls for a year. Everyone
obviously you have to sit through it. I never watch myself. I never watched else had gone…there was no contract system anymore. I left in 1982. What
Cagney and Lacey. I don’t watch Burn Notice. I never watched Queer as Folk. is weird is that when I took my contract to Grandpa to show him, I said, “Do
Obviously I had to be polite to sit there and watch [Hannah Free] and I found you know Lou Wasserman?” He said, “I know Lou very well.” I said, “Look at
myself being very taken in by it. this. I made $200 a week as a secretary Grandpa. I’m only making $186 here
Rage: In the film, the daughter of your lesbian partner denies you visiting rights. That at Universal.” He said, “Let me see it.” He burst out laughing. I said, “What’s so
is so hurtful to watch. This is still something that is prevalent today between partners funny?” He said, “That’s my contract. I draw up the first contract for a studio
that are not married. and a player. It’s mine.” He was hysterical. He said, “Do you want to be an
SG: You know Bill, I didn’t realize it when I read it but as I was shooting it, actress Sharon?” I said, “Yes Grandpa.” He said, “Sign it. You have to be coming
I was in a different place. You get your head in different places. But, it is so from a position of power from which to negotiate. You are not. Sign it and
timely. The fact that this story is about an 80-year-old woman…this story let’s see how you do next year and I’ll go talk to Lou [Wasserman].” He died. He
32 RAGE monthly | OctOber 2009
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