Actress Overcomes Financial Hardship to Star in Iconic TV Series

In 2025, actress Jane Seymour's career took an unexpected turn when she faced one of the toughest financial challenges of her life. Back in the early 1990s, Seymour was going through a divorce from her third husband, David Flynn, and had lost her home to the bank. With "no money" and desperate to make ends meet, she called her agent, saying she would "do anything" for work.

That "anything" turned out to be a role in the TV series Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, which Seymour was initially told would "never be a series." However, the western drama, which focused on a wealthy female doctor establishing her practice in Colorado Springs in the mid-1800s, ended up running for 5 seasons on CBS from 1993 to 1998, and even produced two TV movies. Seymour's performance as the lead character, Dr. Michaela "Mike" Quinn, earned her a Golden Globe award for Best Actress in a TV Drama in 1995.

Looking back, Seymour, now 74 years old, acknowledges that the role on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman was a career-defining moment, even though she had low expectations when she first signed on. The show often tackled themes like sexism, racism, and bigotry, and Seymour's portrayal of a strong, independent woman in a male-dominated field resonated with audiences. Despite her financial struggles at the time, Seymour's decision to take on the role ultimately led to one of the most iconic TV performances of her career.