She’s fresh from the set of The L Word: Generation Q, where OGsJennifer, Leisha Hailey and Kate Moennig have been reminiscing about when theymade the original series over 15 years ago. In an effort to ensure the lovescenes were as effective as possible, the cast had a visit from a “sex educatorlady”. “There was a book and there were pictures. It was kind of like being inhigh school in your sex ed class and your mind’s blown. And then some of itjust made total sense. I went, ‘Oh yeah, I totally get that’. I learned what adental dam was and things like that, things I didn’t know about. Strap-ons. Iwas like, ‘Wow, a whole new world’.”
Despite her willingness to talk about the intricacies and accoutrements ofqueer rumpy-pumpy, Jennifer is a notoriously private person. When the wonderfulRachel Shelley, aka The L Word’s Helena Peabody, interviewed her for the cover ofour August 2010 issue, the piece was titled, “The elusive Ms Beals”. However,when it comes to Jennifer’s work and worldview, she’s more than happy to openup. On the subject of love scenes, she reveals, “You know, they really createdsuch an amazing atmosphere for us”. In addition to the Lezzy Sex 101 seminar,director Rose Troche made a compilation video of steamy clips from straight andsapphic classics, including Desert Hearts, High Art and Bound. She encouraged thegroup to study it and share their thoughts on what triumphed and what flopped.“And so we watched this film together and we talked about it as actors. By andlarge, when the scene didn’t work it was because you could tell the actors wereafraid. So it was at that moment, in The Sutton Place Hotel in Vancouver, weall made a vow to go into those scenes with as much courage and dedication as wecould.”
How awesome is that? The women tasked with starring in the first evermainstream lesbian TV show made a promise to themselves and each other thatthey would do so bravely and boldly, and boy did it pay off. No one exudes bigpower dyke energy like Bette. She is alpha lez incarnate, and Jennifer isunrivalled in her ability to play the hell out of a sex scene. Aside fromdelivering a smoulder like no other, her acting chops and expert use of thoseextraordinary, big, brown eyes can elevate onscreen lovemaking from hot andheavy to profoundly moving, emotionally layered and deeply erotic. So what’sher secret? “To figure out what the story is. A love scene without story isjust porn. What are you trying to express? How are you serving the story?”
It’s through the telling of stories, both the saucy – Bette and Tina inthe lift, Bette and Alice at the opera, Bette and the carpenter through thewall of a prison cell – and the serious – the exploration of Bette’s identityas a mixed race lesbian, her relationship with her devoted but homophobic father,the many difficulties Tibette face navigating a long-term same-sex partnership– that The L Word transformed television forever. Without it, there may neverhave been room for programmes like Orange Is The New Black, Wentworth and LipService. Even if you’ve never seen The L Word, even if there were aspects of theoriginal you found problematic, even if this is the first time you’ve ever heardof it (FYI, you’re in for a wild ride), odds are it’s impacted your life. It isnot an exaggeration to say that when The L Word came along in 2004, it changedthe game for the visibility of gay women.
She must get it all the time, but I can’t talk to Jennifer withoutthanking her for what the show did for me. My younger self would simply neverforgive grown-up me. So I ration myself to one sentence at the top to briefly explainthat The L Word gave me unprecedented hope and was crucial in my understandingand eventual acceptance of my own identity. She is gracious, sweet andendlessly charming in her response. “Oh gosh, my pleasure,” she replies warmly.“It’s really the thing that makes me the happiest about the show, when I hear howit’s affected people.” Oh, Jennifer. Could you be any more of a goddess? Itturns out The L Word didn’t just change our lives, it changed hers too. Shespeaks from the heart when she says: “It broadened my understanding of activismand it broadened my understanding of love. I’ve gotten to meet so many amazingpeople because of the show and so many people who are dedicated to changing howwe see one another. That’s been an incredible gift.”
It must be clear to anyone who comes into her orbit that Jennifer is anexceptional human being. A working mother with a glittering acting career, herhappy place is being surrounded by countryside. She seems to radiate serenity,and spends her spare hours running, swimming in the wild, and campaigning tosave the planet. Her Instagram is lush with posts advocating for worthy causes andappreciating Mother Nature. She lights up discussing her new role as a C40Goodwill Ambassador, emphasizing how impressed she is by youth activists’ workaround climate change. “All they’re asking is to listen to the science and to act on thescience. I’m really excited to be part of this group that is trying to make adifference.”
Ever the overachiever, she was just 19 years old, studying American literatureat Yale, when she was chosen to pop on an off-the-shoulder sweater and embodywelder-by-day, exotic-dancer-by-night Alex Owens. This breakthrough performancein 1983 mega-hit Flashdance won the hearts of audiences worldwide. Gay womenflocked to the cinema in droves, mesmerised by the lady manual labourer who hadall the moves. Since then, she’s scored parts in films like After and The BookOf Eli and shows like NBC’s Taken and Amazon’s The Last Tycoon, in which sheplays secretly mixed race 1930s movie star Margo Taft, her favourite acting gigto date. In addition to all that, she is, as you already know, stupendously gorgeousand doesn’t appear to age. It’s been a decade since we last saw Bette and inthe Gen Q trailer she is somehow more luminous than ever.
Along with Leisha, Kate and L
Word creator Ilene Chaiken, Jennifer is executive producing the newseries. In fact, she was a driving force in bringing it back to our screensafter the season six finale aired in 2009. “I remember really early on, Kate,Leisha and I were made aware that the show would often be mentioned on social media.There was still an appetite for it. Between that and realising nothing hadreally taken its place, with the specificity of it being all-inclusive, that’swhen we started talking with Ilene.” The alarming election of Donald Trump madeThe L Word 2.0 all the more urgent. “We thought, ‘We have to do something’. Werealised, at the end of the day, we’re storytellers and we’re sitting on these storiesthat could help people.”
“ We’re in such a place in history where to be other is to bevilified and, perhaps, be violently attacked”
With thecurrent political climate, and escalating homophobic, biphobic and transphobichate crime, the sequel is perfectly timed and desperately needed. When therevival was announced, Jennifer tweeted, “Think more rebel yell than reboot”.Today she says, “We’re in such a place in history where to be other is to bevilified and, perhaps, be violently attacked. For that reason alone, it’simportant to fortify representation and offer as much representation aspossible, so that people know they are not alone, they are worthy of love and aplace in the world. You are deserving and nobody can tell you differently.”Stirring words from an incredible ally. If you ever need a pick-me-up, checkout the YouTube video of her acceptance speech for the 2012 Human Rights Campaign’sAlly For Equality Award. Make no mistake, this is a woman we are lucky to haveon our side.
The L Wordmeans as much to Jennifer as it does to us. When she found out Generation Q wasgoing straight to series, she happy-danced around Kate Moennig’s house. “Oh my god,I was so excited.” She confirms that the new additions to the cast are “so lovely”. “We made surereally early on, Kate, Leisha and I, that part of our job is to make them feelwelcome and to make them know that they are now the torchbearers, in a way. Sowe had dinners, and talked about it. For me personally, I feel like one of my responsibilitiesis to not only provide the continuity and give Bette’s voice, but to check inwith all the actors and make sure they’re getting what they need in order tofulfil their vision of their character.”
Being backin the role of Bette is “absolutely surreal”. “To be in the midst of inhabitingthis character again, there are days that you feel it’s kind of like a dream.”She finds that wardrobe helps her reconnect with Bette’s alpha essence. “I saidto our costumer, ‘I just need a really good suit and some cufflinks’. Thetricky part is determining what transpired during those 10 years. Like any ofus, you’re not the same person you were 10 years ago. There are things that you’velearned and experienced that start to inform who you are in that moment.Nothing stays the same. So it was really trying to figure out what’s happenedand how that has changed Bette or informed who she is at this time. That wasreally interesting.”
Since welast saw her, a great deal has altered for Bette. Brace yourselves Tibettefans, because from the looks of the cast announcements, Tina, played by thefantastic Laurel Holloman, is no longer in the picture. Take comfort though,because Bette and Tina’s daughter does feature in the new series. And guesswhat? Angelica’s in high school now. “Bette’s parenting a teenager and hasparented her since she was born, so being a parent certainly changes you. She’slearned a certain amount of patience and diplomacy, but there’s still the fire inthe belly. There’s still the wanting to make things right and change the world,and having very little patience forpeople who don’t want to. I don’t think she’s quite as hot-headed as she usedto be, but there’s still a lot of F-bombs, for sure.”
Somethingelse that’s new for Bette is her foray into politics. Yep, the ultimate powerlesbian is running for mayor of Los Angeles. The trailer shows her rocking atrouser suit (and some snazzy cufflinks), giving a rousing speech in front of abillboard displaying her campaign slogan, “Passion. Progress. Porter”. It’s all just so right.When I ask if Jennifer would back Bette in an election, she pauses todeliberate. “There’s a lot of things that would be impediment.” (Her propensityfor profanity, perhaps? Her serial cheating? That one time she kidnapped herown daughter leaving Mama T all, “What the eff, Mama B?!”) “But she has really good ideas and
she’s very,very passionate. She would do a good job. It would be a learning curve, forsure, but given the alternative, I would definitely vote for Bette.” I wonderif she’d ever pursue a political career herself? “Oh, gosh no,” she answers immediately,sounding mildly horrified by the notion. “I have no interest in politics at all.Zero. Less than zero. Sub zero. Like we’re going into definite negativenumbers.”
Ourconversation turns to how The L Word has evolved to reflect the way that wereally do live. The original was widely adored, but did face some criticism,specifically for its handling of trans character Max, for its depiction ofbisexuality, and for not being more racially diverse. “What was important, toall of us, was that you broaden the umbrella of inclusivity. That’s what wereally focussed on.” From the teasers, it’s obvious that Gen Q hassignificantly more cast members of colour. “That’s something that we’veaddressed this season, certainly. You realise that you’re not gonna be able toplease everybody, but you do try to make progress as best you can, within theconfines of the storytelling and what the showrunner wants to do. And also, oneday in the future there will be a show where the entire cast is of colour andit’s about being queer. Hopefully we’ll get to a place in the world wherethat’s a story that’s told.”
I say whata rush it is to have Bette back. What a woman. Unapologetic about her identityas a mixed race lesbian, career-minded and confident, gutsy in the pursuit ofher desires. She is dominant, yet vulnerable, formidable, yet flawed. It’s thatinterplay of strength and softness that makes her so compelling, and it’s theconviction and heart that Jennifer brings to each and every scene that, to mymind, qualifies her as one of the great queer TV characters of all time. And,let’s face it, Jennifer is just so darn good at playing a lesbian. I assume shemust get hit on by other women in real life constantly? “Not very much,actually,” she laughs. When it does happen, she handles it with her typicalgrace. “I just have to very politely remind people that I’m not gay and thankyou so much for the attention, but that’s not a remote possibility.” She neverworried that taking a lesbian role might negatively impact her career orpersonal life. “I never thought about it even for a second. When I first tookthe part, I really focussed on Bette being a gallerist and I did so muchresearch on that, that I really forgot about everything else. And then it cametime to do this love scene and I was like, ‘Oh my goodness, is there somethingmaybe I should know that I don’t know?’ It just dawned on me, ‘You know what? It’sjust about love and how you make your partner feel loved’, so I just went withthat.”
It’s almosttime to wrap up our tête-à-tête so Jennifer can hop on another call. Along withL Word alum Ilene Chaiken, she’s exec producing a Freeform adaptation of TaylorJenkins Reid’s exquisite novel, The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo, and they’re dueto discuss the pilot episode. I was so obsessed with this book. It’s the gripping,glamorous tale of an ageing Hollywood movie star who became wildly successfulwhile concealing both her racial identity and her bisexuality. Evelyn, likeBette, is a strong, seductive queer woman of colour and I can’t wait to see herbrought to life onscreen. Jennifer’s equally enthusiastic about The Hive, a YAnovel tackling the dangers of social media and online shaming, written by BarryLyga and Morgan Baden. Jennifer came up with the concept for the book with
friend andfilmmaker Tom Jacobson. “One of the things that was the most important to me was taking alook at what mob justice can do to us as individuals and to us as a society.”Surely ideal fodder for a telly adaptation, this project is yet another exampleof Jennifer’s commitment to amplifying narratives the world needs to hear.
Throughoutour chat, Jennifer is engaged and thoughtful. She listens attentively andresponds with careful consideration and genuine compassion. She comes across atouch softer than Bette, with an innate elegance, but there’s that fire there,too. Like the character she plays so masterfully on The L Word, she will fightwhen it is necessary, she will speak truth to power, and she holds the same unshakeablebelief that art and activism are the answer. Before we part ways, and I go backto pinching myself that I’ve had a chinwag with the Jennifer Beals, she tellsme, “Oh, I think storytelling can change everything. As soon as you see yourselfrepresented, as soon as you see an idea represented, an ethos represented, itbecomes a possibility. And not only for change in general in the world, but forindividual change. I mean, the first thing you said to me was how much The L Wordmeant to you, right? And how much it changed your life. And that’s what it cando. It can change us. And I’m really thrilled that the show is back and I’mthrilled to have been a part of the original.”
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