Jane Seymour – The Bonds That Tie Us

Jane Seymour has a distinction few females have—she was a Bond Girl—yes, a shaken, not stirred, James Bond love interest. In 1973, at the tender age of 22, she appeared in the eighth Bond film, Live and Let Die (I can hear Paul McCartney and Wings singing that song). It was the first time Roger Moore played 007; and Jane played the beautiful Solitare—the virginal high-priestess of tarot cards, who was employed by Dr. Kanaga, a corrupt Caribbean dictator, whose alter-ego, Mr. Big (maybe that’s where Sex & The City got the name) sold opium in Harlem and New Orleans.

Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman

Despite a decades long career on the large and small screen, Jane’s most recognizable role is that of Dr. Michaela Quinn—a role she played from 1993-1998 on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman that earned her two Prime Time Emmy nominations, two Golden Globe nominations, and a win in 1995.

She was nominated a number of times for Emmys, Golden Globes, People’s Choice, and Screen Actors Guild awards.

In 1988, she played two historical figures—opera diva, Maria Callis—the mistress of Aristotle Onassis, who was the richest man in the world; and Wallis Simpson—the American divorcee, who King Edward VIII abdicated his throne for.

Perhaps the English actress’s close proximity to British royalty—she shares the name of King Henry VIII’s third wife; Queen Elizabeth bestowed upon her an OBE (Officer of the British Empire); and the first of her four husbands, Michael Attenborough (1971-1973) is the son of Richard Attenborough—once president of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art—and the nephew of Sir David Attenborough—accounts for her being chosen as the official British correspondent for Entertainment Tonight at the royal wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton on April 29, 2011.

Dancing With the Stars

I had the pleasure of interviewing Jane in 2007, six weeks before she appeared on Dancing with the Stars. We had a special connection when we spoke, as we both had parents who were in failing health. My father died ten days after the interview, and Jane’s mom passed away ten weeks later, while she was on DWTS. In my mind, there will always be a heartfelt connection that links Jane Seymour to the last few precious days I had with my dad.

In my Up Close and Personal interview with Jane, she shared many fascinating stories. She talked about her remarkable parents—her father was a surgeon who let her witness her first operation when she was ten, and her mother, was a Dutch nurse, who ended up in a Japanese prison camp for a few years during World War II.

She talked about the three near-death experiences she had—the last one in 1995, when she gave birth to twin boys at the age of forty-five.

She and her third husband, James Keach (1993-2015) named one son, John, after the legendary singer, Johnny Cash, who they met when Cash appeared in four episodes of Dr. Quinn (1993-1997) that Keach directed. Cash’s wife, singer June Carter Cash, appeared in three episodes of Dr. Quinn, and the two couples became good friends.

Cash was impressed with Keach’s directorial talents and asked if he would make a film about Cash’s life. The film that Keach co-produced was called Walk the Line, which was nominated for several Academy Awards. Also, Joaquin Phoenix received an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Johnny Cash, and Reese Witherspoon, won an Oscar for Best Actress for her portrayal of June Carter Cash.

Christopher Reeves

They named their other twin son Kristopher, in honor of Christopher Reeves, who stared in the romantic fantasy 1980 movie, Somewhere in Time with Jane. In 2022, Jane revealed how she and Christopher Reeve fell in love on and off screen while they were filming. She said she was single at the time, and Chris was single, but he found out that his girlfriend was pregnant, so they didn’t pursue a romantic relationship, but remained lifelong friends.

In this video, Jane talks about the amazing attitude Christopher Reeve had after he became paralyzed in 1995 when he was thrown from a horse during an equestrian competition.

I miss Chris terribly. I spoke with him on the phone a lot. He was the epitome of someone who embraced change and found opportunity within it. It’s remarkable that someone who was paralyzed and couldn’t breathe without at least two caregivers watching him like a hawk 24 hours a day could still move mountains and do a huge amount to bring support to scientists to find a cure, not just for spinal regeneration, but probably every major disease through stem cells.

When the gauntlet is thrown down, some people pick it up and carry it magnificently, and others shrivel up and live in fear, doubt, resentment, pain and hate. Against all odds, Chris continued to live a purposeful life, more so than some people who are 100% able-bodied.”

– Jane Seymour

Jane said she realizes it’s the simple things that matter the most. It’s not about owning things, it’s about experiencing them. The only thing you take with you is the love you shared with people and the difference you may or may not have made, and anything creative you may have left behind. We don’t know what happens at the end of life, but I don’t think we should waste the life we have.

“I learned and even more importantly I experienced in my life review, (during a near death experience) that a divine energy connects all of us. That has since orchestrated all my relationships. With each person I have attended in the dying process, I have also witnessed this spiritual energy. I have given talks for hundreds of hospice workers, and almost everyone agrees that this energy is present. Hospice workers often tell me their stories of God’s loving energy being present during a client’s death.”

– Barbara Harris Whitfield- author
Full Circle: The Near Death Experience and Beyond

In this video, Jane talks about a documentary called “Unbeaten” that is about the disabled community.

Jane also wrote a book about interior decor called, Making Yourself at Home, and like Anthony Hopkins, she is an avid painter.

She supports several charities,like Childhelp USA, Heifer International, Dress for Success and the Starkey Hearing Foundation.

In 2004, Jane renewed her commitment to the American Red Cross’ measles campaign. She was honored for her work when she visited Kenya and took part in the vaccination of almost 14 million African children in one week.

“I believe that children are our most endangered species,” says Jane. “We can eradicate measles from the continent of Africa with a program that costs less than $1 a child.”