Barbara Eden has been acting for an astonishing seven decades and at 90 years old is showing no signs of slowing down.
Best known for her role in “I Dream of Jeannie” which premiered in 1965, the actress, singer, and producer had been on our screens for 10 years before she landed her most famous role.
She first came to our screens as a semiregular on The Johnny Carson Show in 1955, but it was her role in the famous fantasy sitcom “I Dream of Jeannie” that made her a household name.
The Arizona-born actress played Jeannie, a sultry genie set free from her bottle by astronaut and United States Air Force Captain Anthony “Tony” Nelson, played by Larry Hagman.
She played the role for five years, even playing additional characters in the show as Jeannie’s evil sister and her hapless mother.
Eden has appeared in over 50 movies and at 90 years old is still working.
Her last movie was released in 2019 – My Adventures with Santa in which she played Mrs. Claus and in the same year the movie was released she starred in the stage production of “Love Letters” as Melissa Gardner.
“I feel young!” Barbara told Page 6, adding that she considered herself lucky to do the job she chose. “I feel sorry for people like my poor father who had to work every day at something he didn’t like. I enjoy my work. I still work.”
Barbara said she had continued to go to the gym, take spin classes, and lift weights until a few years ago. Now, a trainer comes to her house to help her with resistance training and they walk around.
“I have a lot of friends,” the TV legend said. “I’m pretty active socially.”
She even has an appearance lined up for March 2022.
“If I’m around, I’ll be there, I really like it,” she jokingly said.
As well as acting Barbara also enjoys writing children’s books and co-wrote a book called Barbara and The Djinn about a little girl named Barbara who meets a “charming and wizardly Genie” who takes her on adventures, not so far away from her own iconic role.
She hopes that her books can remind children how wonderful reading is because she said, “now all they do is look at telephones!”
Barbara dismisses the idea that “I Dream of Jeannie” might come across as a bit dated for today’s viewers.
“Come now, this is a classic theme,” she said. “One Thousand and One Nights’? This is a lovely wonderful fantasy.”
“And let’s be honest here, she was in the driver’s seat you know. She wasn’t subservient at all.”
What an amazing life Barbara Eden has had, made possible by her inspirational attitude and energy. She really does prove that age is just a number.
Please share if you too love this legendary actress.