Candice Bergen, a celebrated actress with a career spanning decades, has become an icon for women of all ages. From her early days as a model to her groundbreaking role as Murphy Brown, and now as a star in the "Book Club" franchise, Bergen has consistently defied expectations and embraced life on her own terms.
A Career of Breaking Barriers
Bergen's journey in the entertainment industry began with modeling for Vogue Magazine. She later transitioned to acting, earning an Oscar Nomination and winning five Emmys for her lead role in the hit show "Murphy Brown." The role almost didn't happen. In an interview on 60 Minutes, Bergen revealed that she flopped the audition because the role was initially meant for a younger actress, Heather Locklear. However, the writer and producer of the show, Diane English, insisted that the character was perfect for Bergen.
"Murphy Brown" was a groundbreaking show that resonated with women who saw a successful, dedicated, fearless, and confident woman in a male-dominated industry. Bergen herself felt that the character gave her permission to be her "brattiest, bawdiest self." After winning five Emmys, Bergen reportedly asked not to be considered for further nominations for the role.
"Book Club": A New Chapter
More recently, Bergen has found success in the "Book Club" film series, alongside Jane Fonda, Mary Steenburgen, and Diane Keaton. The first film revolved around four longtime friends whose lives are changed forever after reading "Fifty Shades of Grey." The success of the first film led to a sequel, "Book Club: The Next Chapter," which takes the friends on a bachelorette party trip throughout Italy.
Bergen was instrumental in setting the location for the second film. Bergen started planning the next exotic chapter of the 2018 comedy from an airplane in Las Vegas while promoting the movie even before the release. "We were saying, 'I think this movie's going to do OK − maybe we should do a sequel,' " Bergen recalls. "And I said, 'Yeah, and we should shoot the sequel in Italy.' It turns out, we did."
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Bergen enjoyed being the only single one in both movies. She also liked being a Superior Court judge in the sequel, leaning into the isolating aspects of the role. In one scene, her character Sharon has a canal boat romp with Ousmane (Hugh Quarshie) and sports a "post-makeout hairstyle." Bergen said she was going for a laugh with the messy look. While Sharon is seen wearing a waist passport protector, Bergen herself said she would "rather die" than wear one in real life. She is a dog person, unlike her character who is a cat person.
Despite some criticism of "Book Club: The Next Chapter" for its plot and writing, Bergen and her co-stars continue to inspire audiences. Some critics have questioned why actors in American productions always have to be gorgeous, thin, and rich, finding it unrelatable.
Embracing Life, Food, and Aging
Bergen has been outspoken about her body image and her love of food. In her memoir "A Fine Romance," she wrote, "Let me just come right out and say it: I am fat. I live to eat. None of this 'eats to live' stuff for me." She estimated a weight gain of about 30 pounds within the past 15 years and stated that she did not care.
Bergen shared a story of being at a dinner party and enjoying bread with olive oil and chocolate ice cream, despite receiving a judgmental look from another guest. She declared, "I am a champion eater. No carb is safe - no fat, either." She contrasted her attitude with that of other women in their 50s who try to preserve their youthfulness through strict diets, stating that "dieting is out of my purview. I crave cookies, all the things that dilate my pupils." She also expressed her aversion to extreme measures like vomiting to maintain weight, saying, "They maintain their weight by routinely vomiting after major meals consisting of a slice of steak or a filet of fish. I am incapable of this.”
During a visit to TODAY, Bergen addressed her "I am fat" declaration, saying it was a "scant reference" that she never expected to make headlines. She explained that she simply doesn't enjoy eating lunch with women who only have kale and finds it limiting. While she wouldn't mind losing a little weight, she is comfortable with herself and hasn't taken the steps to do it.
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Bergen admitted to having had some plastic surgery in the past, like getting her eyes done when she took on her "Murphy Brown" role. However, she no longer feels the need to tweak her appearance for the sake of Hollywood. She embraces playing mothers, even "mothers of old men," and feels free to be herself.
Family Life
Bergen has been married to Marshal Rose since 2000. She jokingly refers to him as the oldest thing in her house, as he is now 83. Bergen is a grandmother of two, with her daughter Chloe Malle welcoming a son in 2020 and a daughter in 2022. Bergen is excited about this new chapter of her life and is reportedly a doting grandmother. She has a tight relationship with her daughter and respects her boundaries as a mother.
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