The three original Charlie’s Angels stars, Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith, and Cheryl Ladd, reunited this week to celebrate the classic TV series that ruled screens from 1976 to 1981.
But attention quickly shifted away from their groundbreaking work to something else entirely.
Things got a bit emotional when the three original Charlie’s Angels stars reunited Monday, April 6, for the PaleyFest 50th anniversary celebration of the iconic series that dominated television from 1976 to 1981. Among other things, Kate Jackson opened up about how the show had impacted her life in a very personal way.
The star of Charlie’s Angels revealed that extreme fame came at a heavy cost, one she’s still coming to terms with decades later.
The former TV icon said constant public scrutiny early in her career robbed her of privacy and ultimately pushed her to step away from Hollywood.
“We lost our privacy, totally. We just absolutely totally lost every bit of privacy. And then, to make it worse, those horrible tabloids,” Jackson told People during the 50th anniversary celebration of Charlie’s Angels.
The 77-year-old started her career on Dark Shadows before becoming a household name as Sabrina Duncan on Charlie’s Angels. She later appeared in Scarecrow and Mrs. King, cementing her TV legacy.
Jackson said she never imagined the lasting impact of her role.
“[I] never dreamed from day one, 50 years later, anyone would be interested at all or even had seen it,” she told Page Six. “But the fact is it’s never gone off the air, ever. It’s always been on television.”
Despite the career-defining role, Jackson admitted she walked away from the series to protect her personal life.
“I finally had to say, ‘Wait a minute, there’s my life, and there’s the show, and one is killing the other, so something has to go,’” she recalled in an interview with Closer magazine. “I sure as hell wasn’t about to sacrifice my life for a television show.”
She also opened up about Hollywood’s long hours, politics, and gossip: “I’d had it with Hollywood’s long hours, the politics, the backstabbing and the gossip. It was not a great town for having your feet on the ground and living a normal life.”
Attention quickly shifted
However, social platforms quickly shifted attention from Kate’s career and personal reflections to her appearance. Many observers commented on perceived changes in Jackson’s face, sparking a flurry of criticism.
“Can we just stop getting so much plastic surgery as we get older? Those ‘angles’ nowadays look like muppets full of smashed stuffing and horrific stitching,” one user wrote.
“The face jobs surely didn’t fare well! Natural beauty has more value than plastic & fillers can ever offer. Why is this so hard for some to understand?” another commented.
“Jackson made a poor choice in the plastic surgeon who worked on her face. I thought she was esthetically prettier than the other two Angels. She would’ve aged beautifully if she’d let herself do so,” added a third.
Despite the backlash, many fans rushed to defend Jackson, pointing out her health struggles and the unfair focus on appearance.
“Kate had heart surgery and a stroke. That’s why she wore tennis shoes for balance. Leave her alone. Stop judging her. She was a good actress. She left Charlie’s Angels for health reasons,” one fan wrote.
“So sad that social media means ripping people apart. I guess it makes you feel better? I think they all look great. 3 cancer survivors,”.
“Please don’t be mean or judge Kate — it seems that she was very ill back awhile ago. If she seems a little off it’s ok. She looks amazing to me and I’m thrilled to see her back in the spotlight, and she’s not wearing a mask. I applaud her —yay Kate,” a third fan chimed in.
Reflected on modern culture
It’s unclear whether Kate Jackson has seen everything written about her over the past few days. However, reflecting on modern culture, she admitted she doesn’t understand social media.
“I don’t understand social media. I mean, I don’t get it. All I want is a little privacy. And I don’t understand why people are so fond of taking their picture and telling the world where they are at this very moment, doing this thing. I don’t get it,” she said.