What Jean Simmons Meant to Me…
I am currently curled up on the couch eating Redvines licorice and watching Guys and Dolls.
The news that Jean Simmons had died hit me rather hard. I adore Jean. I think she is gorgeous and a brilliant actress. But, she means so much more than that to me. She was one of those rare actresses that I actually connected to, that I felt like I knew. For instance, I love Rita Hayworth but, I don't feel like I know her. Jean to me was like Ingy, Audrey, and Carole are to me.
In fact, I loved her before I even knew who she was.
It was a few years ago, I was 11 or 12, I was on some classic movie site searching for some photos, and I stumbled upon these two:
I didn't even know who she was, but I was struck by her beauty, especially her eyes. Her eyes were not normal - there was something beyond her eyes.
I was like, "Who is this Jean Simmons? I need to watch something with her in it!"
Then a couple months later I checked out Guys and Dolls from the library. I didn't know that Jean was in it. The credits came up, and I vaguely recalled the name, but I couldn't place a face to it.
Then, I saw her, I saw Sgt. Sarah Brown! Then, I immediately remembered. It was HER!
Jean took a character like Sarah and just made so much out of it. I felt I knew her, I knew Sarah, and I knew Jean. I connected in a very personal way both to the character...and especially to the actress.
Every role I've seen of Jean (and I still have many more to see), has been so completely Jean. I can't really explain it, but I automatically love any character she plays, because "she's my old friend"; because she and I "know" each other.
And, that is why I am so heartbroken this night - heartbroken, because I've lost an old friend.
And, besides that, I recently wrote her a gushing letter telling her just how amazing she was and how much I loved her...but I hadn't mailed it yet. That kinda makes a person feel even more rotten.
I made Jean a tribute video. Not very well-made, but just a little something to express some of my grief at her death. I chose the song, "You Didn't Have to Be So Nice" by The Lovin' Spoonful for a very specific reason. Besides the obvious lyrics, there is an entire line that is just SO Jean:
You came upon a quiet day
You simply seemed to take your place
I knew that it would be that way
The minute that I saw your face
That's pretty much how Jean and I "met". I instantly "knew" her, even though I didn't even know her name. She was just there one day.
I'm gonna miss her, but thank goodness we have her 60 years of film and television work, so we don't have to really say goodbye.
So, rest in peace lovely lady...you will not be forgotten!
-Meg
originally published on ClassicForever on January 23, 2010