Gena Rowlands Looks Breathtaking At 91

Mar 03, 2022 by apost team

Gena Rowlands is the true definition of an icon. She is a retired actress with a career in film, television, and stage performances spanning across seven decades. With plenty of awards under her belt and an outstanding reputation filled with praise, honor and accolades, it's easy to see why Rowlands has become recognized as one of the greatest actresses of all time.

Rowlands was born as Virginia Cathryn Rowlands on June 19, 1930, in Cambria, Wisconsin. Her mother picked up acting later in life under the stage name Lady Rowlands, and her father was a state legislator named Edwin Myrwyn Rowlands. Rowlands also had a brother named David.

Rowlands' family moved a few times during her childhood. She eventually made her way back home and attended the University of Wisconsin, where she was very popular for her astonishing beauty. Rowlands later moved to New York City to study drama at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

It's clear that her hard work and dedication paid off as she has gone on to become a world-renowned star. She worked with her late husband in 10 films and also worked with her son. Some of her most popular films include "A Woman Under the Influence," "Gloria" and "The Notebook."

Today, Rowlands is 91 years old and is as gorgeous as ever. While she may not have any projects in the works, she stayed busy with her career up until 2017. Let's take a look at this actress' illustrious career and what her life looks like today.

For several decades, Rowlands was one of the most sought-after actresses. She has graced the screen and the stage time and again with her acting abilities and has continued to be a true icon in the entertainment industry. The 1950s were a busy decade for the rising star, as she made both her Broadway debut and her film debut during this time.

However, it was her time during her marriage to John Cassavetes that Rowlands' career really took off. Cassavetes was an actor, director and screenwriter. The pair married in April 1954 and were together until the director died in February 1989. 

They met at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts while studying and shared a passion for the arts. However, Rowlands said that she was not looking for love when she moved to New York, as she did not want to give up her potential career as an actress and become a homemaker.

Rowlands explained:

"I was not looking for love. I was not looking for romance. I was avoiding it like crazy, so I was plenty mad when I saw John Cassavetes because he was the best looking man I'd ever seen in my life."

The couple made ten films together, including "A Woman Under the Influence" and "Gloria," both of which earned Rowlands Oscar nominations. Rowlands and Cassavetes went on to have three children — Nick, Alexandra, and Zoe – who followed in the footsteps of their father and became actors and directors themselves. Rowlands even starred in Nick's film "The Notebook" in 2004. She later remarried and wed businessman Robert Forrest in 2012.

apost.com

According to IMDB, Rowlands' last acting credit was in a short called "Unfortunate Circumstances" in 2017. Prior to that, she had still been pretty active in the acting scene, appearing in "The Skeleton Key" and various television shows. 

Even though she is not currently working, her legacy is still very present in Hollywood. In March 2021, The New Yorker called Rowlands "the most important and original movie actor of the past half century-plus." The outlet described her acting methods as "singular and personal." Back in January 2015, Rowlands also was honored by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and received a Lifetime Achievement Award for her extensive work as an actress. 

While many people are fans of Rowlands, the actress told The Hollywood Reporter that she was a huge fan of Bette Davis. Rowlands explained, "When I was young, women in films and the general public were very firmly taught to be polite and not answer back no matter what was said, but not Bette… I liked that." Rowlands even got to play Davis' daughter in the TV film "Strangers: The Story of a Mother and Daughter."

Looking back on her career, Rowlands said she always knew she wanted to be an actress and tied it to her love of reading. "I think one of the most wonderful things about acting is that you get to live so many lives, as in reading, too," she said. "I'm sure that influenced me. I never wanted to be anything but an actress."

Today, Rowlands is 91 and is enjoying life with Forrest, and is also a grandmother to Nick's three children. She is also extremely beautiful inside and out, as her legacy continues to live on.

What do you think about Gena Rowlands' expansive career? What is your favorite film or show you've seen her in? Let us know, and be sure to send this to your loved ones.