Despite being nominated for the Academy Award for movies such as “The Great White Hope,” “All the President’s Men” and “Kramer vs. Kramer,” Jane Alexander said she’s equally proud of the work she has done for wildlife conservation over the last three decades.
Alexander met with the media on Monday, Feb. 26, during the opening days of the 24th annual Sedona International Film Festival. She was this year’s recipient of the festival’s lifetime achievement award and was on hand for questions and answers following screenings of three of her films.
“I have been so happy here in Sedona and so happy at this film festival,” Alexander said, noting that the last time she was in Sedona was in 1959. “I’ve been to numerous festivals including the very first year of Sundance. Film festivals give burgeoning artists a place to showcase their work. It’s so exciting today to go across America and see film festivals everywhere including this one — which is one of the best — in one of the great spots in the world.”
Alexander was asked to sum up her life experiences and what she’s learned along the way. She said one needs to be prepared, magnanimous, compassionate and willing to walk 1,000 miles in someone else’s shoes before judging them. She said she’s lived by those words throughout her career and life in general.
After having just two small parts in television series, Alexander starred in “The Great White Hope” alongside James Earl Jones. The movie was adapted from the play of the same name, which starred the two actors. She said the movie not only broke stereotypes on film but in real life as well, as they played lovers in the 1970 film. Alexander said it was not only one of her greatest acting experiences of her career but one of the most poignant experiences in her life.
“I loved it,” she said of the part and experience. “I was a young actress, so to get a remarkable role like this was just heaven.”
That role earned her the first of four Oscar nominations as well as a Tony Award win for her Broadway performance. During her 50-year career, she would be nominated for a Tony six more times as well as eight Emmy Award nominations for her roles on television — winning two. Her first Emmy nomination came in 1976 for her role as Eleanor Roosevelt in “Eleanor and Franklin,” a role in which she aged from 18 to 60 years.
Alexander was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1994 and has written two books, including “Wild Things, Wild Places,” which is about her travels with field biologists and conservation.
Prior to the festival, SIFF Executive Director Patrick Schweiss said of Alexander’s appearance, “Jane Alexander’s legacy of incredibly iconic films is, like the name of one of the films that earned her an Oscar nomination, a testament to her creative talents and commitment to the profession. We are thrilled to present her with this award and very much look forward to having her engage with film fans from around the state and around the world.”
The festival runs through Sunday, March 4. For more information and tickets, visit sedonafilmfestival.org or call 282-1177.
Ron Eland can be reached at 282-7795 ext. 122 or by email at reland@larsonnewspapers.com
