Jane Seymour At 71 I’m coming into my own

The diversity of Jane Seymour’s career is mind-boggling – from Bond girl to mini-series icon, theatrical leading lady, Hollywood star and most recently, crime-busting granny. She scored her first movie role at 17 and at 71 seems to be in her glorious prime, busier than ever.

That Jane has managed to stay at the forefront of an increasingly fickle profession is no mean feat. Her secret? A dynamic combination of what many directors picked as innate talent, intense hard work, courageous resilience and … well, yes … singular good looks.

But it hasn’t been easy. Behind each triumph have been notable challenges and playing out in the background a personal life spanning four husbands (and divorces) plus her current beau, David Green, a #MeToo encounter with a producer that nearly sank her and a brush with death, going into anaphylactic shock while playing opera diva Maria Callas. Along the way there have also been shocking discoveries about her parents’ wartime years that had a profound effect on her.

Since she flew into Australia the day before we meet she hasn’t paused for breath, which I quickly realise is how Jane rolls. At The Weekly’s exclusive photo shoot to promote her quasi-modern day Miss Marple in a fun new TV series called Harry Wild, which we’ll come to, she can’t wait to dive into the wardrobe of gowns handpicked by our Style Director. Jane is in dress-up heaven, emerging an irrepressible ball of energy, eager to try every angle to secure the perfect shot.

Afterwards, in a free-wheeling interview, she settles back for a candid chat about what really makes her tick. She admits she probably married too young – the first time and the second – but is proud that she hasmagazine three times with her clothes on – most recently aged 67! She says she feels her late mother’s energy with her all the time and has loved being a mother and grandmother herself. Mostly it’s clear that Jane Seymour is a survivor, driven by a positive attitude to everything that comes her way.