Virginia Madsen

Official Website
04 Jul 2012

IAR Interview with Morgan Freeman and Virginia Madsen: “The Magic of Belle Isle”

•• IAR’s Managing Editor Jami Philbrick recently had a chance to sit down with Academy Award-winner Morgan Freeman and Academy Award-nominee Virginia Madsen to talk about their work on The Magic of Belle Islle. The two acclaimed actors discussed the new film, what it’s like being on a Rob Reiner set, the difference between filming on location and shooting on a sound stage, and why W.C. Fields said never work with children or animals. To watch “I am rogue” exclusive interview with Morgan Freeman and Virginia Madsen about The Magic of Belle Isle, please click on the video player above.

Currently available on iTunes and VOD and opening in theaters on July 6th is the new drama from acclaimed filmmaker Rob Reiner entitled The Magic of Belle Isle. The movie stars several actors who have worked with Reiner before including Academy Award-winner Morgan Freeman, Academy Award-nominee Virginia Madsen, Kevin Pollack and Fred Willard.

Monte Wildhorn (Freeman) is a famous Western novelist whose struggle with alcoholism has sapped his passion for writing. He takes a lakeside cabin for the summer in picturesque Belle Isle, and befriends teh family next door – an acttractive single mom (Madsen) and her young daughters who help him find inspiration.

The Magic of Belle Isle is currently available on iTunes and VOD and opens in theaters on Friday, July 6th.

02 Jul 2012

Mad about Madsen: Academy Award Nominee Virginia Madsen on her latest film: “The Magic of Belle Isle”


•• Chris Yandek interviewed Virginia Madsen for CY Interview, you can read the full article below.

Actress Virginia Madsen has been entertaining us since the early 1980s. From roles in Candyman to her 2004 Oscar nominated performance in Sideways, Virginia has become one of Hollywood’s top actresses. She says she now gets more consideration for roles than in the past. The sister of fellow actor Michael Madsen, Virginia’s latest role is in a movie alongside Hollywood legend Morgan Freeman in The Magic of Belle Isle out this coming weekend in theaters. It is also currently on video on demand. Ms. Madsen speaks about many topics. You can listen to CYInterview here.

In her latest role for the Rob Reiner film The Magic of Bell Isle, Virginia said in the production notes that she believed this project was how movies were formerly made. She believes Hollywood is not currently doing enough to push the viewer’s imagination. Ms. Madsen has some very candid words on the state of comedy movies and the entire American film industry:

“I love a lot of these big movies, but I like the ones that have a story. And I have a teenager and when I like take all of his buddies, sometimes you take ‘em all to the movies, and they’re really disappointed when it doesn’t have a good story and you know or they can tell and they won’t go. You know but it’s, I think they, there’s kind of a dumbing down of especially comedy. The dumbing down of romantic comedy is really disappointing to me that comedy’s become so negative and mean spirited. Continue Reading  

28 Jun 2012

Virginia Madsen: “In Your 40s You’re Free… In Your 50s You Fly”


Virginia Madsen said: “it’s always about evolving and learning to fly.” An actress with astonishing range and a touch of timeless glamour, Madsen’s talents didn’t hit center stage until later in life. A native Chicagoan and the daughter of an Emmy-award winning poet and playwright, Madsen packed in over two decades and 40 TV and film roles with some of the biggest stars in the business before she finally hit her stride with her Academy Award and Golden Globe nominated performance in the film “Sideways.”

Several films followed suit, including roles in “The Astronaut Farmer” and “A Prairie Home Companion,” until her role as Charlotte in Rob Reiner’s recently released “The Magic of Belle Isle.” Madsen plays a middle-aged woman with two daughters who emotionally shuts down her life until an older man named Monte (Morgan Freeman) moves into the house next door. Their unlikely but uplifting coupling unfolds as both Charlotte and Monte rekindle dormant passions and inspire one another to re-engage in life.

“I’ve always admired her work over the years,” said Rob Reiner, who cast her in his latest film “The Magic of Belle Isle.” “She’s one of those really talented actresses who’s done extraordinary work for so many years but just doesn’t get the recognition she deserves.”

Huff/Post50 recently spoke with Madsen about her role in “The Magic of Belle Isle,” women in Hollywood, and her own life post 50.

•• I read that you’re the first actress to kiss Morgan Freeman on screen.
– I’m definitely the first to have had a romantic love story with him.

•• You had to fight for your role in “Sideways.” How did this role come about?
– I would have thought that I would’ve had to fight, but I just got a phone call from my agent saying that Rob Reiner wanted me for his next film. I almost fell over. I love working with Rob. And I was floored again when he said that Morgan Freeman was playing the lead and that I’d be his leading lady. Then Rob said, “I think it’s kind of a love story, but you read the script and let me know.” I read it and cried like a baby. I couldn’t believe how beautiful it was. I can’t tell you how grateful I am to have been asked to do this.

•• The film doesn’t focus on the differences between you and Morgan Freeman: Age, race or physical disabilities. There’s a purity to the connection between you two.
– Yeah. We’re just two human beings falling in love. We don’t think about our race. We don’t think about the difference in our age. We don’t think about his disability. We just think about the two people we are. That’s how much sense it makes. That’s how right their love story is. Nothing else matters. Continue Reading