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 Despite insisting on a
temporary stay while her home is renovated,
Burstyn's character Helen soon makes friends
with the women and finds romance as well.
The 88-year-old, known for her work in
Hollywood, television and Broadway, spoke to
Reuters about the role alongside co-stars Ann-Margret
and Loretta Devine.
Below are excerpts edited for clarity and
length.
Q: What made you want to do this film?
Burstyn: "It was a different image of a
retirement home that I was carrying in my head
... We were in a real retirement home and it was
beautiful. I was surprised at how many
activities there were and the swimming pool and
the beautiful dining room and good food and then
a lot of love affairs were going on there."
Q: Did you have any hesitation in doing the
film?
Ann-Margret: "No hesitation at all, no. And it
was so much fun having (actor) Christopher Lloyd
as my boyfriend. He was so dear and full of life
and so endearing."
Burstyn: "Writers don't write very often films
for four women in their 70s and I'm in my 80s
... it's a rare thing and it's a relief for me
to see people that I recognise as somebody that
I might actually know ... and not older people
just pictured as doddering old folks on their
way out. I like that about it, it's fun."
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 Q: Why are films like this
important? Devine: "Someone very
rich and famous told me to never tell my age ...
Now everything's on the internet so, you go,
what the hell? This is what it is. And so,
what's the point of hiding, you know?"
Q: What are the joys of getting older?
Burstyn: "It depends on your mindset ... if you
think about it as the end of the road and all
the fun is gone, it's not very fun. But if you
keep on learning, like I try to keep on learning
all the time, it just goes on being better and
better. You feel more secure, you feel more
confident, and you feel like you know what's
going on."
Devine: "You get to say things you never would
have had the courage to say when you were
younger."
Ann-Margret: "I notice people take my arm (and
ask) 'Are you OK?' It's very sweet."
(Reporting by Alicia Powell; Writing by
Marie-Louise Gumuchian, Editing by Alexandra
Hudson)
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