According to foreign media reports, Gena Rowlands, the well-known American actress who played the old lady in "The Notebook", passed away at her home in California on August 14, local time. She was 94 years old.
She suffered from Alzheimer's disease for many years. When she died, her husband and daughter were with her.
In addition to "The Notebook", Gena Rowlands' masterpieces include "Glory", "Drunk Woman", "The Face", "Opening Night", "Parents" and many other films.
Gena Rowlands has a nearly perfect family and career.
In 1952, Gena Rowlands' performance in the Broadway stage play "The Seven Year Itch" attracted attention from the outside world. After starring in the stage play "Midnight", she entered Hollywood.
In 1975, she was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress for "The Drunken Woman", playing an emotionally fragile and isolated housewife.
In 1978, Gena Rowlands won the Best Actress Award at the 28th Berlin International Film Festival for "Opening Night".
In 1981, she was nominated for the Oscar for Best Actress again for "Glory," playing a character who helped a neighbor babysit and dared to resist the gang. Both Oscar-nominated films were directed by Gena Rowlands' husband, John Cassavetes.
Female Glory
Gena Rowlands and her husband John Cassavetes
were nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress in the Television category twice for "This Life Is Love" in 1993 and "Nervous Blindness" in 2003. .
In 2004, Gena Rowlands starred in the love movie "The Notebook", which was popular among young people, and played the older heroine Ellie in the film. This film was directed by her son Nick Cassavetes.
The film is adapted from the novel of the same name by Nicholas Sparks. It tells the story of a pair of childhood sweethearts who reunited after World War II. This unforgettable story is told by an old man who visits patients living in a nursing home every day. This notebook tells the story, and as the story comes to light, it becomes clear that the old lady lying on the hospital bed is the heroine in the story, and the storyteller is the young man back then.
The film grossed $117 million at the global box office and became one of the most popular love movies of this century.
▲ Rowlands played the heroine suffering from Alzheimer's disease in "The Notebook"
In 2015, Gena Rowlands won the Oscar Lifetime Achievement Award. Subsequently, Gena Rowlands announced her retirement. His works include: "Master Key", "Nervous Blindness", "True Love Confession", "Morning Frost", etc.
In addition, Gena Rowlands’ two daughters, Zoe Cassavetes and Zane Cassavetes, are also engaged in directing and screenwriting.
The cause of Gena Rowlands' death has not been announced. According to director Nick Cassavetes' disclosure in June this year, Gena Rowlands suffered from Alzheimer's disease , just like in "The Notebook" Like the heroine, she fell into a state of "complete dementia", and she has been fighting the disease for five years! The story that filmed 220 years ago truly happened to their family.
It is reported that Rowlands' mother, actress Letty Rowlands, also suffers from Alzheimer's disease. In 2004, while promoting The Notebook, Rowlands told the media that she had a spiritual connection with her mother while playing Elle.
Rowlands said in an interview with the "New York Times": "This last "The Notebook" based on Nicholas Sparks' novel - it was particularly difficult because I played a person with Alzheimer's disease. character. My mother and I have experienced this. If my son Nick hadn't directed this movie, I don't think I would have acted in it - it was a difficult but wonderful movie."
Netizens expressed their regrets. : I really like "The Notebook" and have watched it many times! One word comes true! I have not escaped the same disease.
Source: Red Star News, Morning News, Shanghai International Film Festival, netizen comments, etc.
