Lea Thompson Reflects on Her Iconic Career and New Hallmark Series, ‘The Chicken Sisters’ (Exclusive)
See what the 'Back to the Future' and 'Some Kind of Wonderful' star has to say about her latest project
Lea Thompson will always be adored for her roles in ’80s classics like Back to the Future and Some Kind of Wonderful, but these days, the award-winning actress, who also headlined the 1995 sitcom, Caroline In The City, is back on TV, with a starring role in the new Hallmark freshman series The Chicken Sisters.
Adapted from the bestselling book of the same name, the show follows a longtime rivalry between two family-owned Southern fried chicken restaurants. The series, which also stars Wendie Malick (known for her roles in Just Shoot Me and Hot in Cleveland), premiered on September 10 and is cooking up its big season finale on October 24—and fans have been excited to see Thompson back in a TV role.
First for Women caught up with Lea Thompson while she was in New York to see her actress daughter Zoey Deutch make her Broadway debut in the revival of Our Town. Read on to see what she has to say about The Chicken Sisters, her iconic ’80s films and more.
Woman’s World: What drew you to The Chicken Sisters?
Lea Thompson: I had heard of the book because it’s very popular and it was in Reese Witherspoon’s book club, but I also love working with the team at Hallmark, and I had experience working with the showrunner, Annie Mebane, on The Goldbergs, so I really trust her. She’s not only a great storyteller, but the character I play is really interesting. She’s a Southern woman and they are a lot of fun. I also love the language and there is a lot of humor, drama and romance in this series so it seemed like the perfect fit.
WW: You have great chemistry with Wendie Malick. What was it like working with her?
LT: We had so much fun together, and I hope we get to do more scenes together if there is a second season. We both come from doing sitcoms and in many ways, we are cut from the same cloth. I admire her and I love her timing and really everything about her.
WW: The series is like a perfect dish, with a little bit of everything—drama, mystery, conflict, secrets and romance.
LT: It is bingeable. At the end of every show, you wonder what is going to happen next. It takes a strong writer to make so many characters believable. Plus, the story makes sense, and it has many touching moments.
WW: How do you pick roles and challenge yourself at this stage of your career?
LT: It has to do with the people involved. Life is short and you don’t want to spend it with people who are going to make things difficult. Also, I like projects that put something positive into the world. I like to create things that make people laugh or think about what it’s like to walk a mile in another person’s shoes.
WW: You started out as a dancer before moving to acting. Can you speak a little about that?
LT: I was a ballet dancer in New York, Philadelphia and Minnesota. I loved it so much, but I was not suited for the big leagues as my body was not flexible enough. I was lucky to switch in time and get my first movie, Jaws 3-D, within five months of quitting dancing. I accidentally found out what I was meant to do. I have had a lovely career as an actress and as a director, which has been so rewarding and fulfilling.
WW: What has it been like to step behind the camera and call the shots?
LT: It helps me as an actor, to be more technically helpful to the director, and this extra skill set also helps because in this economy we all have to do a lot of different jobs in order to survive. When the jobs are not there for me as an actor, I now have another job that I can do, which has been really useful. I have not had that many good parts in the past 10 to 15 years, so I am so happy I can still work with wonderful people and on wonderful projects when I can’t get a good acting job.
WW: Do you see everything differently when you’re directing?
LT: Yes, 100%. There’s a whole different set of problems that you are faced with and must solve before you start shooting a scene. I also look at the story more on the “whole” as opposed to looking at it from only the perspective of my character. There are a lot of things that actors have no business sticking their nose into but as a director, I have to.
WW: If you could direct any star, who would it be and why?
LT: I’ve noticed the better the actor, the more open they are. I would like to work with Meryl Streep. I would love to learn from her and see inside how she does it and creates all her characters.
WW: Back to the Future is turning 40 next year. How do you feel about the movie and its legacy decades later?
LT: When I meet fans, like when I attend Comic Con, it is shocking to discover how way more than half the people in the audience were not even born when that film was made. That is an astonishing legacy to have.
WW: How has Michael J. Fox been doing in the face of his ongoing health issues?
LT: He seems to be doing really well right now. I don’t know if there’s a new drug, and did not get a chance to talk to him about that, but he seems to be doing better than the last time I saw him, which is great.
WW: You also acted with Tom Cruise in All the Right Moves. What was that like?
LT: Poor guy with his incredible career and being the biggest movie star! I did not see that coming when we did this film. He has been a massive movie star for a very long time, and it’s funny to see someone make it that huge and then you sit back and say you knew them when they were much younger. I am astonished watching him do all those stunts. He was always super dedicated and hardworking. I really had a great time co-starring with him and I hope to work with him again someday.
WW: Your John Hughes movie, Some Kind of Wonderful still has a following 37 years later. What are your thoughts on the film?
LT: I noticed an uptick of fans when it comes to Some Kind of Wonderful and it is such an important movie for many reasons, including that it’s where I met my husband. We have been married for a very long time and I just love him so much. Yes, the storyline was great, but I always feel blessed that I did that movie because it brought me to Howard [Deutch, the film’s director].
I also feel blessed that people feel that film resonates with them all these years later. In the last few weeks, I have been approached by many people who told me it is their favorite movie. It stands out in the John Hughes realm because it was so different from some of the other projects John was known for, plus my husband did an amazing job since he is such a talented director.
WW: You and Howard have been happily married for 35 years. What’s your secret?
LT: He is really my best friend. He makes me laugh and I think we are able to be apart together, in a good way. We sometimes have to be apart for our jobs, and we are both independent, but we’re also codependent. I love FaceTiming him. You can’t take something the wrong way when you are looking at someone’s face, and it’s much better than phone calls so, I always make him FaceTime me.
WW: What’s it like watching your daughter star in a Broadway play?
LT: I am so proud. She is so happy, and it has been such a great experience. She has been an actress for 15 years and Our Town is her Broadway debut, and it’s such a great part. It’s such a beautiful play to be done right now when there is so much conflict with people, and this production conveys the message of community and how we really need to remember how precious we are to each other.
WW: Does she ever come to you for advice about the business?
LT: She’s been in the business a long time too, so if anything, I ask her for advice! But in all seriousness, I can be a good shoulder to talk to because I understand what she is going through. She has someone who really understands the demands of an eight-shows-a-week schedule, and I understand how weird it is when in one moment everyone is clapping for you and then you get on the subway, and nobody knows who you are. In 20 minutes, you go from being somebody fabulous to being just part of the crowd and that is a strange thing to adjust to.
WW: What do you like best about being at this stage in your life?
LT: I don’t feel like I have anything to prove. I feel happier and more settled. I also feel like I still don’t know anything, and I am so fortunate that I am always learning and growing. What I also like best is that I’m alive, healthy and get to spend my downtime with my family.
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