Shirley MacLaine Interview 

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At 80, Shirley MacLaine still talking — and not looking — back

The stars haven’t aligned the way Shirley MacLaine would have liked for “Elsa & Fred,” the late-life love story starring herself and Christopher Plummer.

“I love that it’s being released the same time as ‘Interstellar,’ ” she says dryly. “I hope people find us!”

With any luck, they will (the film opens Friday). Now 80, the star of “Sweet Charity,” “The Apartment” — and, more recently, “Downton Abbey” — is always worth watching. On the phone from Malibu, the actress/author/reincarnation buff/Warren Beatty sister popped chocolate-covered almonds as she spoke about sex, fame and why you won’t catch her at a funeral.

There seems to be real affection between you and Plummer. Did you know each other in past lives?

Too many times in this one! Once I asked him, “How would you describe me to someone else?” and he said, “I’d describe you as the one, if someone did something bad, you’d spank them.” I thought that was cute . . . Of course, he’s Canadian and I’m half Canadian, so we don’t always say what we’re thinking. Except the bottom half of me is not Canadian and that does say what I’m thinking.

What does that mean, “the bottom half of me”?

Oh, you have to figure that out, babe. [guffaw]

Moving on: James Brolin plays Elsa’s ex. Did Barbra Streisand hang around the set?

No . . . but Jim and I had dinner quite a few times. We talked about life and love and the pursuit of happiness, and what it means to be with famous people.

Didn’t you once say you wouldn’t mind kissing your brother to find out what the fuss was?

We do. I think [he and wife Annette Bening] are excellent for each other. They understand each other, they get out of each other’s way.

You’ve talked about your open marriage with your ex, Steve Parker. Is that anything you’d recommend?

I would, but listen: Kinsey and all those sexologists found that human beings fit into three groups: basically monogamous, serially monogamous — that’s what I was — or promiscuous. If there was a way people could do that study on themselves before they marry, there’d be a helluva lot less fighting and jealousy.

With life. It’s a very interesting state of being — to choose contentment over joy! Over happiness! Because that would lead to a fall.

Elsa’s called “a girl in a woman’s body.” Is that how you feel? And are you ever shocked when you walk past a mirror?

Absolutely! You can regard yourself as you want to in a mirror, but if someone takes a picture of you and you look at that, you can’t fool yourself. Yes, I had [a facelift] at 50. That seemed a good time to do it, but some of the stuff . . . now — wow!

What’s ageism like in Hollywood, and what’s that been like for you?

MacLaine is seen in this undated photo.Photo: Everett Collection

That’s not the same thing — hello! Ageism in Hollywood is their problem, ageism for me is another. I’m having a good time not worrying too much about what I eat, except in terms of health, but not about how I look.

That kind of went by the wayside, as you can tell. But Hollywood hasn’t gotten a grip on that. I don’t think they realize people over 60 have nothing to see . . . I’d like to be the queen of AARP. I have to hurry and do [these films] or Meryl [Streep] will sneak up on me.

Would you work with Anthony Hopkins again? After 1980’s “A Change of Seasons,” he called you “the most obnoxious actor” he’d ever worked with.

I didn’t like him either, but he was on the wagon at that time and it was hard on him.

Anyone you’ve wanted to work with but haven’t?

Marlon [Brando]. I wondered what it would be like to work with someone who put his lines on the wall and the floor and the furniture in front of him. He thought it was more spontaneous. And Marty Scorsese. I really want to do a picture about Louise Brooks, the famous silent movie star. [Scorsese’s] obsessed with sex and death, and that’s what Louise was all about.

Oh no, they’re silly. Nobody dies. Why am I going to say goodbye?

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