Before actress Jane Seymour found her role in “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman,” she faced significant personal and financial problems that significantly affected her life and career. Known for her remarkable portrayals of strong female characters, Seymour’s resilience mirrors the tenacity of her on-screen characters. However, her road to success was far from smooth, marked by intense hardships that tested her personal and professional determination.
During the height of her acting career, Seymour encountered severe financial difficulties due to mismanagement and exploitation by her then-husband. Left with a staggering nine million dollars in debt and virtually homeless, Seymour found herself in a desperate situation that required immediate action to keep her family and career afloat. The urgency of the situation forced her to accept any work available and set the stage for her casting in what would become one of her best-known roles.
Before falling in love with Joe Land and spending time with “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman,” Jane Seymour was going through a rough patch in her life. She owed her ex nine million dollars and was homeless.
Fans of “Dr. Quinn” will never forget the face of British-American actress Jane Seymour. In an interview years after the 1993 film, Seymour reflected on her tenure on his show.
But before getting into the details of her time on the show and how it affected her career, the actress took a moment to reflect on some of the dark experiences that ultimately led to her being cast in “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.”
Seymour before and during “Dr. Quinn”
In addition to acting, Seymour is an entrepreneur and writer. She made her screen debut in 1969 in an uncredited appearance in “Oh! What a Lovely War,” before becoming famous for starring roles in films and TV shows such as “The Onedin Line” and “Live and Let Die.”
Seymour won a second Golden Globe for her role on the 1990s TV series “Dr. Quinn,” playing Dr. Michael “Mike” Quinn. But in an interview years after the show’s finale, the actress shared personal facts about her life before that.
Seymour said her ex-husband at the time squandered their money, leaving her nine million dollars in debt. She called her agency and said she would be happy to take any job because she was homeless and had no money.
As a result, she was cast as “Dr. Quinn’s Medicine Woman.” She was offered a “little movie of the week” but had to sign a five-year contract in case the movie was serialized. In less than a day she started work and Seymour commented:
“They prevented my death. My kids were able to come on set and finish their education in the trailer, and I had a roof over my head and some money to help me start over.”
Seymour experienced some awkward situations on set, although the 1993 series was a blessing for her. Before warning viewers not to fall in love with the lead actor in the pilot and then break up before the end of the film, she gave actor Joe Lando credit for his contribution to the film.
Although the 72-year-old Seymour and Lando are far from their disagreements, their relationship during the filming of “Dr. Quinn’s Medicine Woman” was quite uncomfortable. They dated for a while before calling it quits.
The actress’ marriage to series regular director James Keach made the situation worse.
Seymour recalled that Keach had to oversee and monitor her and Lando’s romance.
The actress went on to say in the interview that she re-watched the series with her grandchildren and saw that it still contains issues that are relevant today.
At one point, Seymour, 72, revealed in an interview at the Creative Arts Emmys Night 2 that she and her co-star Lando had a rough experience filming “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman” and hadn’t spoken in years.
Although she and Lando seemed like an ideal couple on TV, the article pointed out that they had some tension and were going through an awkward breakup phase off-screen. She also remembered the beginning of her romance with Lando.
The “Live and Let Die” actress recalled an incident where a flash flood occurred on set and continued to push her car backward. An intern in the car prevented her from getting out of the car. However, Seymour jumped out and ended up in Lando’s car, starting their chemistry.
Seymour has been married four times and now considers Lando his “closest friend on the planet”. In 2015, her divorce from film director Keach was finalized. Conversely, Lando and Kirsten Barlow have been married since 1997.
When the “Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman” couple took to social media for a picture showing them as they used to be, it brought back wonderful memories. The co-stars remained cute despite looking older.
Lando wore a blue blazer and maroon T-shirt in the picture shared by the “Somewhere in Time” actress, while Seymour looked stunning in a floral dress. “Dr. Quinn” fans went crazy over the picture and its caption:
“Flying with Sully!”
Although Seymour is a well-known movie star, he has not always had a happy relationship. The entrepreneur, mother, and grandmother said in a recent interview that she learned a lot from her failed marriages and previous relationships.
According to Seymour, the best course of action during a breakup is to “let it go” and figure out how to communicate, especially when co-parenting. The actress added that the only fault in her relationships was being with people who wanted someone who didn’t work and was always available.
Being available 24 hours a day was difficult for someone with a career to support a family at the same time. The only thing Seymour did wrong, she noted with a laugh, was going to work.
Before their relationship collapsed, the actress and her ex-husband Keach had twins, Kristopher and John.
When she first married David Flynn, she had a son, Sean, and a daughter, Katherine.
Seymour acknowledged that even though she had a tough job, she tried to spend time with her children. Whenever she traveled for work, they went with her and she was able to keep her balance.
However, the 72-year-old actress pointed out that she had relationships with men who dealt with “other issues”. Seymour revealed with a smirk that she never broke up with the boys; instead, they left to find other partners.
Jane Seymour’s journey, both on and off the set of “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman,” highlights a life marked by professional triumphs and personal challenges. Her experience underscores the resilience required in both the entertainment industry and personal life, especially when navigating financial crises, turbulent relationships, and the pressures of balancing family and career. Despite these obstacles, Seymour emerged stronger, finding stability in her career and personal satisfaction in her later years. Her story is a testament to the enduring spirit of an individual who, against all odds, turned adversity into opportunity, ultimately enriching her life and those around her. Reuniting with Joe Land and reflecting positively on their past experiences together show that time can heal old wounds and even transform strained relationships into treasured friendships. Through his storytelling, Seymour continues to inspire many by showing that it is possible to overcome significant obstacles and thrive.