Stockard Channing, the 82-year-old actor known for her role as Rizzo in the 1978 film Grease, has revealed her most embarrassing moment was forgetting her lines on stage, skipping two pages of dialogue and cutting three minutes from the play, to the audience's delight. She also shared her fears about climate change and her disappointment at the political landscape despite her initial hope after Joe Biden's election.
A Storied Career and New Ventures
Channing, who won a Tony in 1985 for A Day in the Death of Joe Egg and was Oscar-nominated in 1994 for Six Degrees of Separation, has three Emmys for her television work, including The West Wing. She is now making her directorial debut at the Edinburgh festival with Krapp's Last Tape, in aid of the Wembley to Soweto Foundation, at Upstairs at the Roxy until 31 August. Her latest film is Practical Magic 2.
In a candid interview, Channing discussed her greatest fear (climate change), the trait she most deplores in herself (pedantry), and in others (ignorance). She also revealed that the worst thing anyone ever said to her was, "Let's face it, you're not Ingrid Bergman," when she was 19 and the speaker was a potential boyfriend. Her only thought at the time was, "I'm not?"
Personal Reflections and Regrets
Channing, who lives in London, said she owes her parents an apology and described love as "coming home." When asked who would play her in the film of her life, she chose Miriam Margolyes, and she would most like to be Margolyes if not herself. She last cried at the election of Joe Biden, thinking "we were out of the woods. Wrong!"
Her biggest disappointment is not keeping off the last 5lbs, and her greatest achievement is still working. She keeps awake at night due to insomnia and would rather have money than sex or fame, so she could give it away. She wants to be remembered accurately, and the most important lesson life has taught her is, "Don't answer every question you're asked."
Light Moments and Wisdom
When asked what happens when we die, she replied, "God knows." She also shared a joke: a man goes to the doctor and takes off his hat to reveal a huge toad on his head. "When did you notice that?" asked the doctor. The toad answers, "It began as a boil on my ass."
Channing's career has spanned over five decades, with iconic roles in film, television, and theater. Her directorial debut at the Edinburgh festival marks a new chapter, and she continues to work actively. Her reflections offer a glimpse into the mind of a seasoned performer who remains engaged with the world and her craft.
