There’s a lengthy and fascinating conversation with the deliciously talented Cherry Jones in this week’s New York Times Magazine, marred only slightly by Alex Witchel’s slight preoccupation with Jones’ shocking willingness to look like a middle-aged woman on-camera:
A.W.: When you were doing “Doubt,” you would tie your nun’s bonnet in such a way to make a double chin that you don’t have. What does vanity mean to you? Because you are so willing to ditch it.
C.J.: I’ve had really good luck with my looks. I had them when I needed them but never too much that I couldn’t obliterate them with great ease when I didn’t. I have this ridiculous big round moon-pie face and this kooky smile and no eyes left whatsoever. When I smile, they’re nothing but slits anymore. When I meet people for the first time — in Maine for example, I was just there with my sister at this honky-tonk one night, and someone said, “What do you do?” And I said, “I’m an actress.” They always look kind of sad at me because I don’t think they really believe I’ve ever had an acting job, because I don’t look like what most people think an actress should look like. I’ve always rather enjoyed that.
A.W.: I think your face is beautiful. But when you did “24” and there was a camera right in it, did you feel O.K. about that?
Apart from that, which Jones handled very well, there’s an intriguing moment in which Jones matter-of-factly states that her father, like Jones herself, was probably gay, despite being married to her mother until his death, and another in which she disappointingly and classily elects not to dish about her former partner, the almost-as-talented Sarah Paulson. Go read.
Then watch this gushy fan video to remind yourself of all the different places you’ve seen Cherry Jones:
Tags: acting, cherry jones, geniuses, lgbt
I’ve listed all of my shortcomings to you. Now if you would tell me all of yours, we’d have an evening of consolation and laughs. And that’s the theater.
BOOM
This made me want to watch 24, for the first time.
Alex Witchel. What a turd. She’s a fanfreakingtastic actress. Who gives a shit about her looks?
And she used to date Sarah Paulson?!? You just blew my GD mind.
I saw her in The Glass Menagerie when it opened in Cambridge. The production overall didn’t quite gel for me, but Jones was wonderful (even if she doesn’t seem to think she was). And that’s a wonderful interview! Those pictures of her with her parents, gosh.
I saw her in Moon for the Misbegotten, it was…incredible.
She’s from my hometown (Paris, Tennessee) which is tiny and which hardly anyone ever leaves, and so of course I’m obsessed with her. She went to high school with my parents and I’ve gotten to meet her a couple of times, and she was lovely, of course. I try to see all her movies and shows, and I saw her in Doubt and in Faith Healer. I think she’s just incredible, and I wish more people loved her. I was over the moon when I saw you’d posted this interview. She loves to talk about Paris in a very bittersweet way, which I totally identify with. I just want to hang out with her all the time, is what I’m saying.