Jessica Lange: ‘even if a woman runs a studio, she does it with a male point of view’

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Jessica Lange has always worked steadily in Hollywood, but her career hit an undeniable lull about a decade ago. She recently returned to acclaim and audience favor with the lead role in American Horror Story. For four seasons, she’s dominated the show. Jessica, age 66, has decades of experience with the male-dominated entertainment industry. She’s experienced many highs (2 best actress Oscar wins) and lows. She’s seen and heard everything during her years in the biz. So Jessica wasn’t at all surprised to hear 37-year-old Maggie Gyllenhaal’s story about being too old to play a 55-year-old man’s wife. Jessica spoke with The Wrap and told some straight-up truths about how Hollywood works:

On Hollywood sexism: “Hollywood is run with this male point of view. Even if a woman runs a studio, she still does it with a male point of view. And as long as that exists, you’re still going to have this wish fulfillment. That men continue to be fascinating and attractive and virile, and women age and are no longer sexual or beautiful — it’s a fantasy that has nothing to do with reality.”

She’s not surprised by the Maggie Gyllenhaal story: “When I was in my thirties I wasn’t fascinated by 70-year-old men. But then, I didn’t have to be. It’s classic Hollywood. I’m glad the media has picked up on it, but it’s certainly not a new phenomenon. I think a lot of it is fear of mortality. One’s mortality, one’s youth and virility … now they have Viagra, they’re humping away on their deathbeds. Hollywood is a perfect expansion of that idea that permeates our society.”

[From The Wrap]

The stuff Jessica says about female studio heads running things with a male POV is interesting. Last week, Amy Poehler revealed how she “often looks to men to model behavior” during important meetings. She does so, in part, to counteract how men treat her in the boardroom. That sucks in a way. Yet Amy’s killing it so hard that you can’t help but feel she’s pulling one over on the men. She’s playing their game, and she’s winning. Whereas Jessica Lange is pretty much over everything and refuses to play any game. They’re both awesome and winning in their own ways.

Jessica Lange