Anjelica Houston Talks SMASH to Saturday Evening Post

Related: SMASH, NBC

Born of Hollywood royalty, longtime grist for the tabloid mill, and no stranger to tragedy, at age 61, Oscar-winner Anjelica Huston has found a new inner confidence. Following the sudden death of her husband four years ago, Huston was looking for something to fill the void in her life which she found in NBC's Smash-her first venture into series television.

In the March/April issue (on newsstands now), Huston opens up to The Saturday Evening Post contributor JeAnne Wolf about her career as "a great observer," citing that she never "fit in" or had any single type of character that she preferred to play. Outside of the set of Smash, Huston can be found looking for good times - opting to skip the drama of her earlier years - and working on her upcoming memoir. For more information, visit

www.saturdayeveningpost.com/anjelica-huston.

On how Anjelica relates to her SMASH character Eileen: "I would like to be as scrappy as Eileen. I can certainly wrap my brain around her scrappiness. But sometimes I'm a wimp, and other days I think I can conquer the world. I wish I could plan it out a bit better."

On her steamy romantic scenes in Smash: "It certainly livens things up-particularly at my age. I remember at the very outset, two years ago, I said to the producers, 'Please, give me a love interest.' I think it's important to see strong women who also have a very vulnerable side and who are allowed to have a sexy side."

On getting cast as stern women like Eileen in Smash: "Eileen does have a good sense of humor. But it's true, they like me to be these slightly sinister characters. It's good to play against type, I guess."

On her on-off relationship with Jack Nicholson whom she dated for 16 years: "Jack is someone I've adored in my life and will continue to love forever. I don't take him lightly. As it happens, we had a really lovely conversation on the phone yesterday-a conversation that started off a little bumpy and wound up just completely wonderful. That's a real relationship. Real relationships have continuity, and Jack and I have a deep abiding love and affection for each other. I'm proud that we've gotten through some very tough times together."

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