Stockard Channing turned heads at the Duke of York’s Theater in London this week, reminding fans of her Grease days. Although she is mostly famous for playing Rizzo in the 1978 classic, her appearance brought back memories of her co-star Olivia Newton-John and her character, Sandy Olsson.
She wore sleek leather pants and a pair of black boots underneath a navy pinstripe blazer, while also wearing bold red lips. Even with her 81st birthday being only days away, Rizzo looked gorgeous and youthful during the promotional event.
Where is Stockard Channing now?
A lot of changes have happened in Channing’s life and career in the last decade. After losing her longtime partner, cinematographer Daniel Gillham in 2014, she left Maine and settled in London. While in the UK, Channing explores the world of theater, and is currently set for the production Elektra, where she plays the vengeful Queen Clytemnestra.
Though turning 81 soon, Channing has no plans to retire and continues to embrace new roles and projects. She admitted that aging has been a bittersweet experience because it has affected her memory; however, it has also brought her joy. Looking back on old photos, she wonders how to hold on to the past without letting it overshadow the present.
Stockard Channing’s Hollywood journey
Channing’s acting career began in the early 1970s, with her iconic role as Rizzo in Grease launching her into stardom. She then built acclaim across film, television, and theater. Some of her notable film roles include The Fortune 1975, The Big Bus 1976, Grease 2 1982, and Six Degrees of Separation— for which she earned an Academy Award nomination in the mid ‘90s.
For TV, Channing earned an Emmy Award in 2002 for starring in The West Wing as First Lady Abbey Bartlet. A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, and The Women are among the many theater productions Channing has been involved in. Acting aside, she has remained unmarried and childfree after four husbands and her last long-term relationship with Gillham.