Glenn Close is in an era of fabulosity that I aspire to achieve one day. She has a dynamic body of work that speaks for itself — this year alone she strode in on a horse to close Tina Fey’s Booking.com Super Bowl commercial, and recited sober readings of Trump indictment excerpts for an MSNBC podcast. The woman has range. Plus I love that she’s like, “damnit, I’m wearing pants when I want to!” when on the red carpet. And that’s how we saw her this weekend when she attended the Breakthrough Prize Awards clad in a shiny pants or jumpsuit, in a color best described as chartreuse soaked in coffee overnight. While at the event, Glenn shared that she’s taken up an interest in geography and geopolitics. She’s not just wearing pants suits, she’s wearing smarty-pants suits! (I know, I know; I have a long way to go in my quest for Glenndom.)
Glenn Close contains multitudes.
On Saturday, April 13, PEOPLE spoke with the legendary actress about her interests outside of acting at the 10th annual Breakthrough Prize ceremony in Los Angeles.
“I have been studying geography and geopolitics,” said Close, 77. “There’s a fantastic book called The Revenge of Geography, and I got an atlas, and I got a topographical map of the world.”
Through the book, the Back in Action star says she’s learning more about “where countries are,” adding, “We’re so ignorant in this country about where other countries are, and how they affect each other politically, in every way.”
“Now I hear in the news is something like Syria, I know where they are, and I know how they’re related, and where their borders are, and it’s really … I mean, I feel I’m enriched by that,” Close explains. “That’s my passion right now, to study that.”
“Never stop learning,” she adds.
Asked about tapping into her “scientific side,” Close tells PEOPLE, “I had a fantastic Bio 101 teacher at William & Mary, and he was so inspiring that I wanted to get into a white coat and do research.”
“But then I had chemistry. I said, ‘I think I’ll play a doctor, instead of actually being one,’” she jokes.
But regardless of her own personal choice of profession, “My dad was a doctor, he was a surgeon, so I’ve always been aware of that side of things,” Close says.
At this point in her illustrious career, Close says she “challenge(s)” herself “by picking roles that aren’t going through territory I’ve been over, emotionally and psychologically.”
“I either am attracted to something or I’m not,” she says, when asking whether the screening process is a difficult one. “I think of myself as a character actress; that’s what I do.”
Adds Close, “I do these different characters, and it’s become a real passion, and I’m just as excited about the possibilities now than I’ve ever been.”
Alright, I admit that I chuckled at the very basic quote “I’m learning where countries are!” But I understand what Glenn means, when taken in the full context of her answer. My recollection of history classes growing up is that they focused mostly on American history, and a very linear telling of it at that. And I had a very good education! But half the time I think I’ve learned more by watching every episode of American Experience on PBS. But that’s ok, because we can do as Glenn is and “never stop learning.” Right now I have a book on my shelf about geometry. It’s not a textbook; it’s a book for adults that gently explains the history and theories. And someday I will read it!
Most of all here I love Glenn touting the impact of a really inspiring teacher. I too had an amazing science teacher. I was placed in her class freshman year of high school and then kept signing up for whatever course she was teaching, which is how I ended up taking AP Environmental Science. Only instead of making me want to get into the field, I just ended up committing to recycled toilet paper usage for life.
photos credit: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Avalon, Trae Patton / @ A.M.P.A.S / Avalon, Roger Wong/INSTARimages