It’s not everyday that you meet a Bond Girl. That’s right. Most of us know Jane Seymour in many films and on television in her lead role on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman or even more recently her stint on Dancing With The Stars. But when I had mentioned her name to my dad, he really perked up! “She’s a s*x pot!” my dad proclaimed! To which I replied “DAD!!” just like a teenager! Then it was my husband that said “Oh, yeah she’s named as one of the top 10 hottest Bond Girls of all time!”
Well, okay then! But seriously, in my eyes, Jane Seymour is Hollywood royalty. She’s graceful and elegant. Yes, the British accent does always place high on the regal scale and here was my opportunity to meet with her in person as she’s flown into the city to chat with media and adoring fans about her iconic Open Hearts jewellery collection available exclusive with Peoples Jewellers in Canada.
I had recalled the TV commercials on US channels about her line of jewellery and now it’s available in Canada. Given the heavy push for Valentine’s Day now we would all assume that it’s a way to get the guys spending but there’s more to all this as I’ve learned. Jane Seymour’s Open Hearts Jewellery collection is not just about love between two lovers. It’s also about love amongst family and friends. The concept was actually inspired by Jane’s mother Mieke, who’s advice was “when you love yourself and keep your heart open can you best give and receive love.”
Both Jane and her mother have had their share of life’s challenges. Her mother survived three years in a concentration camp during World War II and while she was in captivity, she focused on caring for her fellow prisoners. This experience helped her shift a difficult situation into one that became a giving one. Jane herself has always that inspiration alive in herself with reminders to look for the good even when life’s challenges seem bleek. “We sometimes are in thrown into a situation and wonder why me, but I truly believe, and my mother had shown me, that no matter how bad something may seem, there are always others that are facing even more difficult challenges,” said Seymour. “I designed this line to remind us that we need to keep an open heart and an open mind.”
When I started reading up on Jane Seymour’s Open Hearts collection, I couldn’t help but think of my own mom and my mother-in-law. I had mentioned to Jane that now that I’m a mom myself, there’s so much more I’m starting to understand about a mother’s love and life teachings. So this is how our interview unfolded….
My mother was never one to preach life lessons but now I’ve come to realize that it was all in the way she did things, and I’m recalling things more now. What was your mom like?
JS: Absolutely! I had a similar experience with my mother. After the war, she couldn’t talk about it at all and it wasn’t until I made a movie called One Remembrance and she came one evening and said she was ready to go back to Indonesia to see where she had been. We actually found two of the three camps. But what my mother did was she accepted what life was and accepted that the war was nothing personal and decided to move forward and help others. I think the way I was raised is very much my life today the because our home was very open. We opened our hearts to others and in turn they opened their hearts to us. You can say that we collect people in our family and in our lives. That was very much who my mother was and what she did. My mother really taught me to be accepting of the past but to keep moving forward with a forgiveness. Life moves on.
Nothing in life is more valuable than the flow of love between poeple. If you keep your heart open, your family will find you. ~ Jane Seymour
I definitely keep that same thinking in the back of my head of “no matter how bad something may seem, it could be worse.” Did it take a long time for you to grasp that concept?
JS: Well, I’ve been through a number of hardships in life including divorce, which so many people go through. Also, going through losing a loved one and relationships even our friends can be very difficult. My mom’s advice was very much “only when your heart is open, can you really give and receive love.” If your heart is closed off, which is what happens to most people, you can’t give or receive love. But firstly, you must be able to love yourself in order to love someone else. I often hear of stories from people who inspire me and this line I’ve created. It’s not just about love between two people but it’s also about the strength of love. I see people who are cancer patients and survivors who say the Open Hearts remind them to keep positive and strong.
So, do you think it’s easier to give or receive love?
JS: I don’t quantify things like that. I think some people want to give love and some are fortunate enough to receive love but some are struggling but my mother’s other piece of advice and it’s the hardest one is “only when you love yourself can you really ever love and be loved by someone else.” So, I think when people are working on trying to have a relationship they need to understand themselves. If you’re feeling good in yourself, that attracts other people.
I really believe in that! What goes around comes around. What you give out, will come back to you!
JS: Yes, definitely.
Now let’s talk about moms today. What you’ve experienced, and what you know now, what would you want to tell new moms?
JS: (Laughs) Interesting that you should ask me that as I am a grandmother now and dealing with exactly this! I think my children try to do the right thing with their children. You can teach certain principals but really a child will grow up mirroring what their parents do and for a while, they’ll try and cut that off and do the opposite — it’s like cutting off the umbilical cord. It doesn’t matter what era you’re raising your children, it’s the same cycle of life. So the single most important advice I have for any mother is to keep an open line of communication with their children.
Okay, so tell us about your Open Hearts Collection!
JS: I actually made my open hearts design into a necklace while competing on Dancing with the Stars! I love to paint and draw and noticed that I was always creating images of open hearts and that has become the basis of the collection. I really believe that people want jewellery that is meaningful as it is beautiful. The Open Hearts collections reflect the importance of love and connection in a way that makes the pieces universally accessible. The symbol is a simple one but it carries so much feeling and reflects all of life’s experiences – joys, heartbreaks and inspirations. The Wave collection was inspired by the ebbs and flows of life and how it’s like a wave – constantly building, cresting and releasing. The philosophy not only celebrates the traditional sense of family but also the relationships we form as we journey through life.
And what’s your favourite love song?
JS: Oh! That’s a good question! Hmmm. I would say “When I’m 64″ by the Beatles because I’ll be 64 years old soon! Oh Gosh!
Jane Seymour’s Open Hearts Collection has a variety of styles (and price points) to reflect the various forms of love. The line includes pieces in sterling silver, gold, white gold, rose gold, with diamonds and without. I particularly love this piece with the heart in two that is perfect for mothers and daughters, sisters and friends.
Jane has also founded the Open Hearts Foundation that provides funds to charitable organizations in the areas of health, education, arts and sports, and honours individuals that exemplify the Open Hearts Philosophy of selfless giving in communities worldwide. People can also share their inspirational stories about living life with an open heart at KeepAnOpenHeart.com
Jane Seymour in Toronto meeting with us to discuss her meaningful Open Hearts Jewellery Collection.