Goldie Hawn: Keeping Doors Open

Goldie Hawn was born in November 1945, which means she will be 60 years old in a few weeks.

Goldie Hawn was born in November 1945, which means she will be 60 years old in a few weeks.

Growing up

She told Mike Wallace on 60Minutes, "I was awkward as a young girl. I just didn't feel very attractive. And boys didn't take me as sort of their -- they didn't-- you know. I wasn't the girl with the big hoo-has."

"And I think that I'm happy about that. Because I like that I got an ugly girl's personality. In other words, a homely girl always has to develop that muscle. And I did. But the good news is that I never considered myself beautiful at all. And I still don't."

Her big break

It came in 1965 with a starring role as a ditzy blonde in the TV show Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. That ditzy blonde image started by accident.

One day, producer George Schlatter asked her to introduce some segments on the show. Goldie explains it this way:

"I was a little nervous when I went on, and I'm a little bit dyslexic, which means I'm not a lot dyslexic. But I do switch words sometimes and numbers sometimes. So the camera went on, and I got the words mixed up, and I started laughing. And I said to George, 'George, I did it wrong.' And he said, 'No, Goldie, it was just fine.” A few flubbed lines later and Goldie was an overnight sensation on the No. 1 TV comedy show in America.

The rest, as they say, is history.

On to the movies

Goldie’s first film role was the same ditzy blonde she played on TV. She won the Academy Award as best supporting actress for her role in Cactus Flower.

Her career took off, her personal life didn’t.

During that time, Goldie went into a period of depression. "I was afraid. I left everything I knew. I left every friend that I had made. I was away from my family. I was in Los Angeles, Calif. I'm a family girl. I don't know. I just lost it."

It took nine years of psychoanalysis to get through the anxiety and depression.

Favorite funny guy

Over the years, Goldie has worked with many of the comedy greats, including Steve Martin and Woody Allen. When asked who her favorite was she said, “Steve Martin is so easy to work with, and Woody is a genius - just watching him work, dream, think and act was a real treat, something I would love to do again.

But my favorite partner in comedy was Chevy Chase. Working with him, I just laughed and laughed. And, of course, Kurt. He is fun and funny, real and so true. What a guy.”

Speaking of Kurt

"He (Kurt Russell) is the love of my life and we're now one of Hollywood's longest-established couples.” (22 years)

That first date

Their first date was on a Valentine's Day. At the end of the evening, Goldie invited Kurt in. As Kurt explains it: “I turned around to say something to her, and saw her running towards me. And then she jumped up on me. It was sheer honesty – that was exactly how she felt. She wanted to hug me."

So how come you’re not married?

Goldie has said that not being married is a blessing - and that both she and Kurt have three failed marriages between them, so why bother.

"We are often asked why we have never married. I laugh it off and say, 'Been there, done that.' It didn't work for either of us."

Goldie explained, “I don't like the idea of somebody closing a door and saying, 'You can't walk out the door.' I don't like that feeling. Now, if somebody keeps the door open, I could be a bird in that cage forever and never fly out."

Good days vs. bad days

“ We have a lot of good days," says Kurt. "I figure it this way. If it's 3 percent really bad, and 7 percent not too good, but 90 percent fabulous … I think I'll take that.

Goldie says, “I would honestly say that ours has been 2 percent really bad, 2 percent so-so, and 96 percent fabulous."

On raising children

Not being married hasn’t stopped Goldie and Kurt from raising four well-adjusted kids. (two from her second marriage, one from his first and one that they had together)

“My advice is to love them. Let them know they are the real stars, no matter how many people are praising you... Admit to your own frailties so they will not be afraid to talk to you about their fears.”

Sex

Goldie’s daughter, actress Kate Hudson described their home life: "We have a very sexual family. Sensuality has never been a hidden issue. We were always very open about those things. My mother is a very sensual person, and sexy and all that."

Religion

Goldie’s interest in things mystical and spiritual is very real. She has practiced meditation for more than 30 years and she has converted to Buddhism. She has said, “What I’ve learned through my meditation is a sense of equanimity, a sense of all things being equal.”

Jew-Bu (?)

"I call myself a Jew-Bu, because my tribe is still Jew. But my philosophy and my practice is really Buddhist," says Goldie. “One of Buddhism’s main practices is understanding and experiencing compassion, and how that ultimately is a road to happiness.”

On aging

Goldie explains, “You find yourself attached to your own image; and you find yourself attached to other people’s images. The trick is to become aware of these attachments and to become aware of the impermanence of them.

The view of yourself is ever-changing because you’re growing older, your body is changing, your face is changing, everything is changing—but you have a tendency to grasp onto youth, to grasp onto the ability to always look beautiful.”

On aging in Hollywood

Goldie has been quoted as saying, “There are only three ages for women in Hollywood - Babe, District Attorney, and Driving Miss Daisy.”

Eternal youth?

When asked the question, “Are you sure you haven't found the secret of eternal youth?” Goldie said, “How funny! No, I haven't, but I am sure of one thing. Death is a given, so live now and be happy. Or as happy as you intend to be.”

For other articles of interest to those over 50 (seniors and boomers) visit www.LetLifeIn.com. With a cutting edge and a (sometimes irreverent) sense of humor, LetLifeIn.com explores all aspects of being 50+ -- the concerns, the issues, and the controversies as well as the fun stuff.