Jane Seymour had some of her most inspirational moments with Christopher Reeve during the last decade of his life. She opened up about this at the 2025 AARP Movies for Grownups Awards on Saturday, February 8, where she presented the best documentary award to Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story.
Speaking to PEOPLE, the 73-year-old shared how motivated she was by Christopher Reeve’s determination to live even in his terrible condition. Being his close friend, she had accepted to help care for him at the request of his wife, Dana Morosini, whenever she needed a break. And this became an opportunity for both friends to bond even more.
Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeve’s love affair
Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeve co-starred in the 1980 movie Somewhere in Time, where they fell “madly in love” with each other. However, their relationship was short-lived as his ex, Gae Exton ,soon informed Reeve that she was carrying his first son. He left Seymour and had two children with Exton, but he and Jane Seymour remained good friends.
Some years later, Christopher Reeve had a horse-riding accident that left him paralyzed and unable to do things by himself. This period brought them closer, especially when his wife and Seymour took turns to care for him. She noted that even when Reeve was in pain, he never lost his humor.
Christopher Reeve’s paralysis
The Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman star also recalled that even though he loved solitude, Christopher Reeve had to cope with someone being with him every time. His only free time was when he dreamt of “sailing alone.” But upon waking up, there would be someone who had to care for every part of his body while the sound of machines filled the room.
Nevertheless, Christopher Reeve did not allow this to weigh him down. Seymour shared that he was always optimistic about life and enjoyed the company of those who cared for him. According to her, he said they always brought “the outside world with them.” Christopher Reeve’s legacy was that of resilience and hope. Even in his difficult situation, he still knew how to put a smile on the face of others.