Stockard Channing has opened up about her reclusive life outside of Hollywood. If that name doesn't sound familiar, then you might recognize her as Rizzo from the smash-hit musicial Grease. Channing discussed her life away from the movie scene during a recent piece for The Sunday Times, where she addressed her life in London, England.
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"Since just before Covid I've been living in London," Channing wrote. "My partner, Daniel, died in 2014 and it was more devastating than I realised; it had a lag effect. The pattern of my life shifted, so I shifted my life from Maine."
Channing continued by explaining that since losing Daniel, she has lived alone, keeping away from the spotlight in the process.
"...I've lived alone since I lost Daniel and I'm happy being a recluse," she wrote. "I was married four times before Daniel and they all represent epochs of me. I grew up in the Sixties, reacting to that repressed notion of marriage and sexuality from the Fifties — kinda like Rizzo."
Channing, 82, doesn't appear to driven to return to acting at this stage of her life. However, she did note that she's directing a production in Edinburgh at present.
"I am directing Krapp's Last Tape in Edinburgh this year — with my good friend David Westhead — but I'm not sure I'll do anything after that. Acting is like everything in life; you never know what's going to happen."
Stockard Channing Has 105 Acting Credits to Her Name
While Channing is best known for her role in Grease, it's not the only movie she's been in. In fact, she's appeared in some other big hits such as Practical Magic and Where The Heart Is along with hit sitcom The West Wing.
"Different age groups recognise me from different characters: for younger girls it's Practical Magic, for grown-ups it's The West Wing, and for real grown-ups it's Grease," she noted. "Although the critics weren't kind about Grease, it made tons of money and it still gets streamed a lot. I guess films are like songs: they take you back to a particular time in your life. Maybe a more innocent time."
Channing's career has been full of success. So, if at this point in her life she chooses to live away from the spotlight, then who can blame her? As long as she's happy and has her health, that's all that matters.
