ReZoom

Jane Seymour talks about her life in that preferred English, matter-of-fact manner that smacks neither humble nor haughty. So when you hear her say things like, "I have about three or four audiences," she doesn't sound the least bit self-obsessed. She's merely pointing out the fact that there are multiple factions of her devoted fan base.

There's the new, young, mostly male fans recently turned on to the enduring British beauty through her appearances on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars," where celebrities partner with professional dancers and compete in weekly elimination rounds, or her scene-stealing turn in the 2005 comedy, "Wedding Crashers." An older and more effete contingent is borderline obsessed with the romance feature "Somewhere in Time," in which Seymour starred opposite Christopher Reeve. Yet another faction formed following her 148-episode run as "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman." The rest are a loose consortium of Bond enthusiasts ("Live and Let Die"), TV miniseries aficionados ("East of Eden") and sci-fi nuts ("Battlestar Galactica").

"I think what's most interesting is that I have a brand new audience," says Seymour, 56, sounding slightly surprised by her ever evolving career. "There are whole different age groups. I'm surrounded by young people so much I often forget that I'm my age."

Seymour tried to explain how she's managed to overcome an age-obsessed medium that regularly shuts out actresses once they find their crow's feet.

"It's just me being me," she says. "I can't think of doing it any other way. When people create a persona or style that isn't really them, it's hard to keep going."

It would seem Seymour never stops. With multiple cinematic projects ready to roll out, a book on home décor about to hit store shelves and a signature line of home textiles coming to retailers, it's anyone's guess how she finds time for the noteworthy philanthropy that won her a Golden Karma Award last year.

And despite the long list of movies, mini-series and cameos, acting is not where the 55-year-old Emmy winner makes the bulk of her living these days. A prolific painter, Seymour says she makes most of her money from selling her art at about a dozen exhibitions a year.

Seymour spends what's left of her free time with her husband, actor-director James Keach, and their preteen twin sons at their home in Malibu, Calif., (she also has two adult children from a previous marriage). Vacations, however, are spent across the pond at their refurbished 14th-century manor house outside Bath, England, called St. Catherine's Court. Leased for charity and the odd rock and roll recording session (the Cure, Radiohead), it's available for public rentals, if you've got the means.

Sorry, Jane won't play hostess. After all, where would she find the time?

Related Links:
JaneSeymour.com