- Her father was her mentor.
Geraldine Chaplin's first role was at the tender age of eight in the melodrama "Limelight," where she had a small appearance as a ballet dancer. Her famous father, Charlie Chaplin, directed and starred in the film (originally titled "Limelight"). Charlie Chaplin's influence shaped Geraldine's career, work ethic, and life. Despite stepping out of her legendary father's shadow early on, she is still often asked about him. On July 31st, the renowned British actress will turn 80.
Chaplin, who has a penchant for colorful clothing, has been grappling with aging for some time. "Since I turned 50, I see that death is waiting for me, hungry," she told Interview magazine last year. "And so, every morning, I wake up thinking: Oh, for now, I'm still here!" And she continues to stand before the camera.
Over her long career, Chaplin has taken on more than 150 roles. Last year, she added two more to her list, appearing in Robert Schwentke's "Seneca – Or: On the Birth of Earthquakes" and Jessica Woodworth's "Luka." She has also been frequently seen on television, including in "The Crown," the popular Netflix series about the British royal family.
In her role selection, which spans diverse genres, Chaplin has shown courage. In the 2014 drama "Sand Dollars," she played a 70-year-old sex tourist who falls in love with a 19-year-old in the Dominican Republic. In one scene, she stood naked in front of her significantly younger film partner. "It took great courage because I'm so old," she told the Welt am Sonntag. "Of course."
Born Geraldine Leigh Chaplin in 1944 in Santa Monica, California, she was the daughter of Charlie Chaplin and his fourth wife, Oona O'Neill. After Charlie Chaplin was denied re-entry to the U.S. following a European vacation due to alleged communist sympathies, the family settled in Switzerland.
Chaplin studied at the Royal Ballet School in London but decided against her father's wishes to pursue a career in acting. She gained widespread recognition as Tonya in David Lean's epic "Doctor Zhivago" in 1965, earning a Golden Globe nomination for Best New Actress. Instead of Hollywood, she moved to Spain, where she met director Carlos Saura. They were together for 12 years, and she appeared in several of his films, including "Anna and the Wolves" (1973) and "Elisa, My Life" (1977). Their son Shane was born in 1974. After their separation in 1979, she began a relationship with cinematographer Patricio Castilla, whom she married in 2006. Their daughter Oona, also an actress, was born from this union.
Growing up bilingual and speaking several languages fluently has benefited Chaplin's career. She has acted in English, Spanish, French, and Italian films. "People tell me I sound completely different in French than in English," she told Interview magazine. "In Spanish, I have a slight accent. But in French, my voice changes. It becomes, in a way, a French voice."
One of the many French productions that Geraldine Chaplin appeared in was "Balduin, the Sunday Driver" (1971), one of the lesser films of cinema legend Louis de Funès. The French comedy icon said at the time about his co-star: "I feel honored to act with the daughter of (Charlie) Chaplin. She is very serious. She is a child of show business."
Whenever she or her father was discussed, it seemed to always be a topic. It didn't bother her. When asked if she had considered changing her last name, she replied in a "Welt Online" interview: "What? I've used and exploited the name as much as I could." And she added: "Without the name, I wouldn't have become anything. Only the name opened doors for me."
Geraldine Chaplin often speaks herself about the influential film star and director who was a strict father. "I worship Charlie Chaplin, not my father," she told "Brigitte Woman". "When I was born, he was already in his mid-50s. I knew an older gentleman with gray hair, with whom I watched his films - and in them played this young, wonderful man."
In 1992, Richard Attenborough filmed the life of Charlie Chaplin with Robert Downey Jr. in the title role and many other stars. In "Chaplin - The Life of the Immortal Film Legend", Geraldine Chaplin also took on a role. She played her own grandmother Hannah. "It was difficult to portray this madness," she said about this personal role. "She wasn't an uncontrollable madwoman. It was a gentle form of madness."
Today, Chaplin lives alternately in Spain and Switzerland. When asked last year at the Berlinale for a tip for young actors, she advised: "Stay persistent." Because that's what she learned from her father. Charlie Chaplin never gave up either. "My father was the only mentor I ever had," she said, "and he was quite good."
Despite her long and diverse acting career, Geraldine Chaplin still finds herself often discussing her famous father, Charlie Chaplin, whose influence continues to shape her life. Reflecting on aging and death, Chaplin shared in an interview that since turning 50, she sees death as a constant presence, reminding her of the fleeting nature of life.
