At a Glance
- Jane Seymour, 74, announced she’s writing her autobiography at AARP’s Movies for Grownups Awards on Jan. 10
- She’s struggling to fit all her stories, including dining with John Wayne on her first flight to Hollywood
- Seymour has authored multiple books including self-help and children’s titles
- Why it matters: The memoir promises untold stories from her six-decade career in entertainment
Jane Seymour is ready to tell her life story. The 74-year-old actress revealed she’s working on her autobiography while speaking with News Of Losangeles at AARP’s Movies for Grownups Awards in Beverly Hills on January 10.
“I’ve just started writing my autobiography and I’ve got so many stories and so many extraordinary things that have happened that I keep thinking, ‘How did that actually happen to me?'” Seymour said.
The John Wayne Encounter
One particularly striking memory involves her first trip to Hollywood. Seymour recalled sitting in first class when a stewardess approached her with an unexpected invitation.
“Mr. [John] Wayne would like you to dine with him,” the stewardess told her.
Seymour still marvels at the experience. “Who comes to Hollywood as a young actress and actually sits down in a dining area on a big jet to Los Angeles next to John Wayne?”
Writing Challenges
The memoir-writing process has proven both fascinating and challenging for Seymour.
“I’m trying to figure out what to do with all the material I can’t put in the book,” she says. “I’m actually trying to think out of the box.”
Her goal is to create a meaningful final product while finding creative ways to share additional stories that won’t fit within the book’s pages.
“I want to make sure that the book is great and it has a purpose, but then I’m trying to figure out what to do with the rest of the stories.”
Previous Writing Career
This isn’t Seymour’s first foray into writing. She’s authored several books across different genres:
- Self-help books: Including “Jane Seymour’s Guide to Romantic Living”
- Parenting book: “Two at a Time: Having Twins” with Pamela Patrick Novotny
- Children’s books: Co-written with ex-husband James Keach throughout the early 2000s
Seymour welcomed twin sons in 1995 with Keach, providing material for her parenting book.
Upcoming Film Project
Beyond her memoir, Seymour is co-producing the film adaptation of “The Truth About Horses,” based on Christy Cashman’s 2023 novel.
The story follows Reese, a teenager determined to win the Black Elk horse race. Seymour first connected with Cashman while filming her “Harry Wild” detective series in Ireland.
“[Christy] asked me if I’d come and do a Q&A with her at the Harvard Book Store in Boston,” Seymour explained. “I was single and free at the time, so I said, ‘Sure, I’ll come and do it. Why not?'”
The book signing proved to be a massive success. “It was a ridiculous book signing. It was around the block. It was crazy. And I realized that this was really something extraordinary.”
Seymour was “blown away” by the novel after reading it, leading to her involvement in the film adaptation.
Personal Life
Currently, Seymour is dating musician John Zambetti. She’s balancing her relationship with her various creative projects, including the memoir and film production work.
Key Takeaways
- Jane Seymour is writing her autobiography, filled with extraordinary stories from her 60+ year career
- Her first Hollywood trip included dining with John Wayne on the plane
- She’s authored multiple books across genres and is now co-producing a film adaptation
- The memoir presents challenges in deciding which stories to include
