Marian Seldes, a vital figure in New York theater, died October 6, 2014, in her Manhattan home. She was 86. Seldes was an enduring presence on the Broadway stage, notably performing in the works of Edward Albee, Samuel Beckett, and Tennessee Williams. In a career that spanned decades, she became a regular in the plays of Edward Albee, which in part earned her a lifetime achievement award at the 2010 Tony Awards ceremony.
Seldes was also an influential teacher of her craft, serving on the faculty of the Drama Division at the Juilliard School from 1969 to 1991. She helped shape a generation of famed performers, including Kevin Spacey, Patti LuPone, and the late Robin Williams. American Masters explored this facet of her illustrious career in an exclusive interview for Juilliard (2003). Below are three outtakes from the film.
Above, Marian Seldes recounts when she was first hired by John Houseman, the founding director of the Drama Division at The Juilliard School. She passionately describes being overwhelmed with love for her students and her instinct to help people.
Marian Seldes on The Work and Fame
Marian Seldes reflects on the idea of recognition and fame, and suggests that we are all defined by the work that we have accomplished, and not by name recognition by the public. She acknowledges that she never became a household name as an actor.
Marian Seldes on Empathy and Cruelty in Directing Actors
Marian Seldes describes her personal connection to acting school through the different phases of her life, and how these experiences were formative to her style of teaching. Seldes stresses that she herself did not like to work in a situation that made her frightened, feel panic, or sense she was wasting someone else’s time. She is greatly opposed to being cruel while directing an actor.
