As the stars of “Charlie’s Angels” mark the show’s 50th anniversary, the three cast members are finding common ground in the TV series’ influence on pop culture and a health battle they’ve all encountered.
Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd reunited on April 6 at the Paley Center’s PaleyFest LA panel to speak about the lasting legacy of the 1970s TV show “Charlie’s Angels.” They also paid tribute to the late Farrah Fawcett, who appeared as one of the main characters in the first season of the series.
During an interview with the trio that aired on TODAY April 7, Maria Shriver asked how their ongoing friendship has helped them face the challenging seasons of their lives.
“Each one of you is a cancer survivor. And we know Farrah Fawcett also had cancer. Did you share stories amongst each other?” Shriver asked.
Smith acknowledged that the trio’s friendship did grow deeper as a result of their shared experiences.
“It just connects you because you know what they’re going through,” she said. “And that’s when I talk about the power of girlfriends.”
During their PaleyFest panel, the trio discussed their experiences with breast cancer. It was the first time Ladd had publicly shared that she was recovering from the disease, Variety reported.
“It’s always a shock, and mine was an aggressive form,” Ladd said at the panel, according to Variety. “It’s a humbling experience, and yet I had wonderful doctors and a wonderful husband who helped me fight all through it.”
Ladd offered details about her diagnosis and treatment, recalling the emotional journey of going bald while undergoing chemotherapy.
“It was a long, hard road,” she said.
When Smith underwent treatment for breast cancer, she relied on “the power of girlfriends” and her family.
“When Cheryl called me, the first thing I did was send her my wigs. She was so brave,” Smith said.
When Jackson was undergoing treatment for breast cancer, Smith was there to support her.
“It’s really important to understand and embrace not being afraid of getting a mammogram,” Jackson said. “Early detection is key. Find it early enough and you’ll probably be all right.”
“If you find something, don’t ignore it,” Ladd said.
Lucy Liu talks about introducing her son to President Biden at the White House, her cameo in a Saturday Night Live sketch with Martin Short and how she feels about the idea of a “Charlie’s Angels” reunion.
During their discussion with Shriver, the trio spoke about their real-life friendship and the positive influence their onscreen friendship had on other women.
“I always talk about the power of girlfriends. It’s so important,” Smith said.
“I felt the same way. I thought that showing women who were for each other, not competing with each other, that we were all for each other,” Ladd added.
“Nobody ever had to say, ‘I’ve got your back,’” Jackson said. “That was just the way it was.”
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