After all these years, I don’t think there’s ever been a more charismatic or relatable Rizzo than Stockard Channing.
Channing was a great artist and her singing was just fantastic in Grease – but nowadays, the 80-year-old looks almost unrecognizable.
Share
The first movie I ever saw Stockard Channing in was called The Big Bus and I thought it was hilarious. But back then, I could never imagine that she would go on and have such a remarkable career.
Today, Stockard Channing is best known for her iconic portrayal of Betty Rizzo in Grease, the 1978 American musical romantic comedy film based on the 1971 musical of the same name. Like many before me have pointed out, Channing was by far the best Rizzo out of all that have played the part.
Many probably also recognize Channing from the series The West Wing, where she starred as First Lady Abbey Bartlet. The experienced actress was praised for her instant chemistry with Martin Sheen, who played President Josiah Barlet.
“It just worked,” she told Entertainment Weekly in 2020.
“We had this chemistry from the beginning. I don’t know what it was, but we had it and it didn’t go away. It was a happy accident.”
Starring as Beth Rizzo
But let’s take a deeper look at the highlight of Channing’s career. Because in the name of honesty, she hasn’t appeared in any major motion picture since Grease, even though she has continued to act in films and on Broadway.
The 13-time Emmy Award nominee and seven-time Tony Award nominee appears to be totally fine with being most remembered for her portrayal of bad girl Beth Rizzo, one of the Pink Ladies in Grease.
But is that really the whole truth?
Back in 1973, Channing had little breakthrough starring in the TV-movie The Girl Most Likely to…, a black comedy about revenge.
“A lot of people talk about the G-word [Grease] and all of that, but back in the day, I had as many people stop me in the street about that one movie. Because it’s about revenge, and people would sit in their living rooms and go, ‘Oh, I’m the only person watching this’ or ‘this person understands me.’ I’m not kidding. It was a million years ago, and then it was the highest-rated movie of the week. Revenge always works,” she says.
According to Channing, she has only watched Grease only two times.
“I used to be grumpy about Grease because I thought it was a kids’ movie or something. But now it’s sort of amazing. I’m very proud of it,” she told The Times in 2019.
The Manhattan-born actress was 33 years old when she played Rizzo and playing a high school teenager wasn’t so easy for her.
”I was so much older than she was in life, but I could not think about that so I sort of threw myself back to what I felt when I was her age over, even younger. The complexity of adolescents and hormones and sexuality and all of that other stuff. Seeing that I really was older I think that added to the isolation of Rizzo,” Channing told Broadway World.
Channing, who became interested in acting at an early age, was thrilled when she was offered the role of Rizzo, and her performance made her a top-ranking star in the late 1970s. She earned a People’s Choice Award for Favorite Motion Picture Supporting Actress, but the New York native had difficulty achieving similar success after Grease.
The beloved actress was handed two sitcoms of her own, Stockard Channing in Just Friends (1979) and The Stockard Channing Show (1980), but neither was successful and her career halted.
But with her look of Elizabeth Taylor and air of calm confidence, Channing didn’t give up and she continued to work as an actress, appearing in many highly-praised movies and stage plays. Her latest appearance on the big screen came was in Angry Neighbors, which premiered in 2022.
Fans call Goldie Hawn, 78, “ugly” in swimsuit photos, Kurt Russell defends her, says she’s beautiful
With an unwavering sense of confidence, Goldie Hawn consistently dazzles her fans with grace, even in the face of online negativity. The actress acknowledges the realities of aging in Hollywood but remains unfazed by trolls and their hurtful remarks.
As one of Hollywood’s most beloved figures, Goldie, alongside her partner Kurt Russell, exudes a resilience that comes from decades in the spotlight. Delve deeper into why Goldie Hawn faces criticism online as we explore her remarkable journey!
Goldie Hawn stands as a formidable matriarch of a renowned acting dynasty, including Oliver (47), Kate Hudson (45), and Wyatt Russell (37). Her down-to-earth charm has secured her iconic roles in films such as “Private Benjamin” (1980), “Overboard” (1987) alongside Kurt Russell, her partner since 1983, and Steven Spielberg’s “The Sugarland Express” (1972).
Before meeting Russell, Goldie navigated through two divorces, opting to skip marriage with Russell in favor of a committed partnership. As she told Woman’s Day in 2007: “We’ve done perfectly fine without getting married. I feel committed already, isn’t that the essence of marriage?”
Kate Hudson, herself a Golden Globe nominee, praises their union, describing them as a perfect match. “Mom is a free spirit, always on the move, while Kurt cherishes his home and family”, she shared. “When they’re together, it’s a powerful dynamic”, she added, referring to their actor son and their strong family bond.
Goldie Hawn, with her trademark golden locks and enduring charm, remains radiant after over five decades in the limelight, embracing the natural process of aging. “Aging is part of life. Embracing it fully means recognizing life’s continuous transformations”, she shared with People. “Growing older? It means you’re still alive!”
Despite her positive outlook, Goldie Hawn acknowledges the ageism entrenched in Hollywood. “Women will always fight this battle”, she remarked to Bazaar. “You don’t expect Hollywood to embrace you when you hit forty-five and show them you’re still desirable and marketable. It’s a specific world”, she added, remaining unfazed by the industry’s narrow standards.
Though she embraces her age gracefully, Goldie Hawn isn’t immune to the onslaught of online abuse. Even during their idyllic 2022 getaway to Greece, where photos showed them enjoying the sun and sea, the internet wasn’t always kind. Critics criticized their appearance, dismissing their enduring love and confidence as they age gracefully.
Despite the negativity, many fans rallied around the couple, especially after their endearing appearances together in films like “The Christmas Chronicles,” where they portrayed Mr. and Mrs. Claus. “They look amazing! There will always be trolls, but their love shines through”, defended one supportive fan.
Goldie’s lifelong companion, Kurt Russell, has always been her staunchest supporter. Recalling their Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in 2017, where they received stars side by side, he declared his love publicly: “Goldie, I owe my incredible life to you. There’s no one else I’d rather be next to”, he affirmed, encapsulating their enduring bond.
At 78, Goldie Hawn continues to captivate and inspire, navigating fame and aging with grace. Share this story and let us know your thoughts.
Leave a Reply