Eventually what happened was, obviously I learned to read, but like all of my siblings, books became our choice, it’s how we wanted to leave the home, it’s the companions we wanted. And so I grew to be as greedy and voracious a reader as my mother was and so when the opportunity presented itself to work in publishing, I really wanted to work in literary fiction because that is my particular affection in publishing.
Alongside your other talents, you’ve also become a winemaker. What prompted that? Well, I feel like I’m repeating myself, but opportunities present themselves and if you’re curious and maybe have the opportunity to work with really smart interesting partners who you think are not just very good at what they do but are decent, honourable people, it’s hard to say no. It’s been a really wonderful opportunity but it’s also been so nice to create something that people have responded to so well but also that we get to have a philanthropic part of the business.
And speaking of the philanthropic part of the business, that wine company is doing more than just making wine, you’re also providing funding for a huge number of school children around the world who are facing a food crisis because of the pandemic. I think when you have any success, even if it’s small in somebody else’s eyes, and not just because you know these particular times have been so challenging for so many people across the globe, it’s awfully nice when you can be philanthropic, when you can think about other people and how you might have some impact, even if it’s seemingly tiny.
18
Throughout your acting career and your business career, you’ve been fearless about tackling a wide range of initiatives, learning new things, taking risks – what would your advice be to young adults starting out on their paths? I’m terrible at advice. I think the thing that’s been most exciting to me is just being curious and being pulled toward the unfamiliar. I would just encourage to be individual and to find paths that are uniquely your own. I think that’s what’s most exciting. The most arresting people are the people that are themselves. Being curious, being compassionate, being interested in other things and people that are different and willing to work hard and not be a headliner right away, has been for me the best.
On a different subject, in your film ‘The Family Stone’ your character engages in a rather controversial discussion regarding Diane Keaton’s character, who wished for gay children. As you’re such a fierce advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, what was it like to play a character that was, shall we say a bit ignorant to these issues? That was a beautiful script and it was really interesting to play somebody whose point of view was so foreign to my own. But I was really interested in just trying to understand her but more so just communicating that, because it was nice to have a conversation where somebody says something and there is a response and something comes of it. And that’s a point of view, obviously, unfortunately, that is not unique.
It must have been a real challenge to play Meredith? I remember being embarrassed and at the dinner table I had to remind myself ‘Diane doesn’t think I think this way?’ It’s just so anathema to my life and my friendships, my community and the
LIVE24-SEVEN.COM
arts and everybody who has been so meaningful to me, being part of that community. So yes but she was, like many people, just not informed, wasn’t opened, didn’t have people around her that were willing early on in her life to shape her world view.
Do you feel a responsibility in the age of social media to engage in political discourse, especially as someone with such a large platform? I grew up in a family that was politically involved. Before we were born, my parents were very involved, politically, in small ways in their local, municipal elections, but also in relation to issues of the time. So I grew up in a house protesting. I think the first time my picture was in the paper was we were protesting the Vietnam War on the campus of Ohio University. We walked around with sandwich boards on that said, ‘War is not healthy for children and other living things’. So I grew up in a house where it was expected that you would be involved, that you would be civic minded, that you would be part of your community, that you would engage and you would put effort into the things that were important to you. Public service, in a way, should be part of your life and you think about the world around you. Being an actor was unrelated to the way I thought I wanted to function in the world. But obviously, you know you have the opportunity to speak some time for people whose voices are not being heard.
Finally, you wear so many hats - wife, mother, acclaimed actress, pop culture personality, New Yorker, and, of course, widely recognized fashion icon. How did all this come to be from the little girl growing up and Nelsonville Ohio? I don’t know! If I had to lay the blame at the foot of anything it would just be curiosity. I’ve always been curious. I’ve always listened to everybody else’s conversation. I’ve always stared on the subway at everybody. I’ve always said, ‘What are you guys talking about?’ I was always that person. So I think curiosity has been a gateway for me. So much can be gained from being excited and curious and interested. So I would have to say it’s curiosity that’s allowed me to have surprising experiences professionally and therefore personally.
CE L EBRIT Y INTERVI EW SARAH J E S S ICA PARK ER
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132
