Mark Moses and Melissa Gilbert in “Still”.Photo:Maria Baranova
Maria Baranova
Melissa Gilbertis embracing the themes in her recent work.
Gilbert tells PEOPLE she was drawn to the role, in part because it reminds audiences that there’s plenty of life and love after 60.
“There’s all these undercurrents that I find fascinating,” she tells PEOPLE of the role.
“I love the idea of being able to tell the story of two people rekindling a really passionate, physical relationship at the age that we are. I think there’s a real tendency to just dismiss us as old, like, ‘They don’t have that. They don’t do that. They’re old, they’re dead.’ That couldn’t be further from the truth.”
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Mark Moses and Melissa Gilbert in “Still”.Maria Baranova
The role also “explores the idea, on a micro level, of what’s going on in a macro world.”
“These two people who are trying to rekindle a relationship find out that they are very politically opposed in a lot of ways. And I love the idea of trying to find a way to be loving, kind and nurturing to each other and converse with one another and have these relationships in our lives, even though we disagree, especially at a time where people are just shutting each other off left and right and shutting each other down,” she shares.
“That’s really a huge step in developing understanding and tolerance of others, is knowing, ‘Maybe my perceptions are off. Maybe I’m wrong.’ It’s the old adage, walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.”
“There’s another aspect that I’m going to leave a mystery that also really intensifies everything,” she teases.
Melissa Gilbert in “Still”.Maria Baranova
Off stage, Gilbert is also enjoying a guest-starring role as Georgie McGill on Hallmark’sWhen Calls the Heart. McGill appears in Hope Valley and has history with one of its residents, Bill Avery (Jack Wagner).
“You know me, I get along really well with a corset,” theLittle House on the Prairiealumna laughs.
“Here I am at this age, playing a love interest for Jack Wagner on that show. The cast talked about it recently, so I’m glad the cat’s out of the bag and I can talk about it.”
Gilbert says that while she’s unsure where things will go between McGill and Avery, she’s having a blast in her time on set.
“Listen, I’m perfectly happy to be the standing example of what love and passion are after 60. And it makes my job delightful,” she says.
“I get to go do that with Mark Moses on stage and do that with Jack Wagner on film and I go home to my darlingTimothy Busfieldevery day, and he’s the greatest love of my life. So my job is good. It’s a nice job if you can get it.
When she’s not busy on stage or spending time with her family, Gilbert is devoting herself toModern Prairie, her brand that’s also developed its own online community.
“We’re growing in leaps and bounds and growing in ways that we both anticipated and didn’t anticipate, which is all great … The app itself keeps growing and the community keeps growing, and the thing that really moves me is the way the women on this app communicate with one another,” the actress says.
“It’s so different from any other social media platform because there’s no backbiting, there’s no anger, there’s no politics, there’s no bitterness, there’s nothing but love and understanding and support for one another no matter what we’re going through,” Gilbert continues.
“And I wish there was more of that out there. I am so incredibly proud of this community that is now building itself. The fact that my partner, Nicole Hasse, and I gave them this platform is great, but what they’ve done with it is truly remarkable. I have so much respect for the Prairians. They’re a wonderful group of friends to have.”
source: people.com
