COVERSTORY  08.25

Jaclyn Smith

Monet’s Soul Sister

Photography by Fadil Berisha @fadilberishaphotography
Hair/Makeup Artist: Paul Anthony @paulanthonylove
Story by Diana Addison Lyle

The exquisitely beautiful Jaclyn Smith occupies a rare space in Hollywood and the business world. She’s conducted her lifelong career with an unshakeable moral compass, and a level of graciousness that radiates and elevates the people in her periphery.

While Jaclyn’s role as Kelly Garrett on the international hit series Charlie’s Angels made her a worldwide household name, her skills as an actress and businesswoman have extended into multiple spheres. She’s the first celevbrity to put her name on an apparel line at a big-box retailer (Kmart) where she sold over $100 million worth of products during her 36 years there. Jaclyn Smith has navigated the principles of branding brilliantly.

Equally as brilliant has been her devotion to her family. By the end of our interview, her priorities became patently clear: that family is her most valuable priority and her quality of life is inextricably predicated upon the love she holds for her family.

We begin our interview discussing this sacrosanct topic as Jaclyn describes her childhood growing up in Texas: “The foundation I had in life is the best gift I could have gotten,” she says unequivocally. “My childhood was idyllic. I had a traditional upbringing with a mother and father who were total opposites but who gave me something so wonderfully unique. Despite coming from different worlds, they gave me a very present, hands-on upbringing. I also had a grandfather who really was my person. He lived to be almost 102 and he added so much quality to my life. My childhood was magical and joyful with my grandfather. I still miss him every single day, and he’s a part of every breath I take.”

Jaclyn confirms that her solid childhood bedrock gave her the compass she needed to navigate Hollywood.

“I credit the values my family gave me to every decision I’ve made in my film career, to how I have lived my life, and to how I have raised my children.”

Jaclyn supplies a nostalgic description on the innocence of her 1950s childhood.

“It was after World War II and the world was flourishing. Everybody was patriotic. I grew up in a neighborhood where you could ride your bicycle until the sun went down. You knew everybody on your street. We sat at the dinner table every night with both my parents, and there was so much solidity in that.”

“My children have grown up in a very different world, but I have always tried to replicate my own experience in other ways. Most importantly, we’ve always sat down as a family for dinner and talked about what went on in everyone’s day with no TV distractions. I’ve also consciously chosen not to immerse myself in Hollywood where the values can become superficial. I didn’t want my children to be affected by anything that wasn’t wholesome.”

Jaclyn recently lost her brother with whom she was exceptionally close. She describes the wealth of that relationship with visible emotion.

“I credit the values my family gave me to every decision I’ve made in my film career, to how I have lived my life, and to how I have raised my children.”

“I had the best brother in the world and losing him has been a massive adjustment because we had a powerfully shared history together. We loved the same people; we experienced everything together and have the identical memories. He was that one person who knew what sitting at our family’s dinner table was like. I experienced so many firsts with him, even if it was just learning how to ride a bike. He taught me everything. I haven’t even gone back to Houston yet, and I know that when I do, every road will speak to me with the stories and memories we shared. I’m hoping to take my granddaughters there at some point because it’s like its own country, and I’d love them to get a taste of that. The worst part about aging is losing those valuable people that make your world go round. I’ve always known I wouldn’t have my parents forever, but I hoped to have my brother forever. Losing those lifelong connections and friends is hard.”

Jaclyn’s acting career trajectory is unsurprising when one considers her burgeoning talents when she was a toddler. She started dancing at age three and has been an accomplished dancer lifelong. Therein lies her love of the classical composer, Tchaikovsky.

“My love of Tchaikovsky came from ‘Swan Lake’,” she explains. “While my husband knows every band and every song from the 1950s, 60s and 70s, I was always too busy listening to classical music. I would spend hours choreographing an imaginary world of ballet.”

She describes her move to New York.

“I had gone to New York initially to study ballet with American Ballet Theater. I could have continued with them, but I extended my repertoire and branched out into Broadway shows and musical comedy. I made that change because the life of a ballerina was too travel intensive and that wasn’t the life I wanted. Fortunately, I don’t have any regrets about that choice.”

On the topic of possible regrets, Jaclyn mentions only one opportunity that she passed up in the early 1980s at a time when multiple offers were pouring in:

“I had already done Rage of Angels and so when Sidney Sheldon’s Windmills of the Gods came along, I jumped at that. During that time, I was approached by Tommy Tune, a wonderfully talented Tony award-winning director and choreographer who I knew from Texas, and he wanted me to come to meet the musical conductor for this Broadway musical, My One and Only. After I did so, I ended up turning down the offer, and there were moments where I had some regret about it because that would have been another connection to my past, how I started, and there’s nothing like a live audience. Since then, I’ve been offered other parts on Broadway, but there’s always been something that has come before it and taken me in a different direction.”

We turn our attention to the meteorically successful Charlie’s Angels, the television series that had viewers pulsating across all parts of the world from 1976 to 1981. I lived in worn-torn Zimbabwe at the time, and I recall relishing the opportunity to escape my own bleak reality with Jaclyn Smith, Farrah Fawcett and Kate Jackson. Charlie’s Angels was such a cultural phenomenon that Hollywood has subsequently tried to relaunch the hit series, but it has never compared to the unique success of the original Charlie’s Angels. Jaclyn was the only female lead (Kelly Garrett) to remain with the series for its entire run, and she thoughtfully describes what made the hit TV show historically significant:

“It was a groundbreaking TV series about three emotionally and financially independent women who displayed enormous strength. There’s no doubt it was glamorous, it had fast cars, and we went to beautiful locations, but the real heartbeat of the show was the genuinely strong friendships that we forged with each other. Our bond was inviolably strong and that made our original trio special. We had each other’s backs unreservedly. Interestingly, at one stage we were accused of being sexually exploitative. I don’t see it that way at all. We were very healthy, physically fit and in great shape and we did most of our own stunts. The show gave us the power of choice. I could be an ice-skater, a ballet dancer, a ball player. We got to do everything there was to do. We knew we were stepping into something extraordinarily different. Our lives changed overnight, and we knew we weren’t going to walk down the street anonymously anymore. It was also an education and it certainly opened doors for me. I probably wouldn’t be branding today if it weren’t for Charlie’s Angels. The ratings were huge, and we were cemented into everyone’s living rooms internationally. To this day I’m still doing autographs for Charlie’s Angels, and 2026 will be the 50th anniversary of the series.”

“Charlie’s Angels was a groundbreaking TV series about three emotionally and financially independent women who displayed enormous strength. The real heartbeat of the show was the genuinely strong friendships that we forged with each other. Our bond was inviolably strong and that made our original trio special.”

Jaclyn received a Golden Globe nomination for her convincing role as Jacqueline in Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. I want to understand fully the significance of that role and what she did to prepare for it. She responds with great passion in her voice:

“It’s one of my favorite films because I was challenged to convince the producers that my diversity in acting went way beyond Charlie’s Angels. The books that I researched were the ones that Jacqueline personally gave us. I have the utmost respect for her, and what I particularly loved is that there was always an aura of mystique about her. She always held a little back from the public – unlike the inauthentic ways in which people portray themselves nowadays on social media. I think it’s vitally important to keep an element of your life – private. I found Jacqueline Kennedy to be genuinely authentic. On the set of the movie, we stayed very true to who she was. She was devoted to her husband, her children and her home. We used vintage clothing, and I had a dialect coach who trained me to speak with her distinctive accent, where I had to learn how to drop my ‘Rs’. She was vastly different from the First Ladies of today. She was very private, so you didn’t hear her voice very often, except when she did the tour of the White House which was televised. The directors did not want me to do Jacqueline’s whispery voice because they said it would be monotonous and I didn’t argue.”

We enjoy a dynamic discussion on the effects of genetics vs the environment, and I’m interested to learn if Jaclyn became who she is today because her gene pool or her environment shaped her more dominantly.

“In my case,” she expounds, “my environment and upbringing probably win the genetics versus environmental race. The grandfather I was so close to was a Methodist Minister and he was way ahead of his time. He brought in people from the middle east to speak at his church. My other grandfather was an immigrant from Germany. He had enormous tenacity, learned English by committing to a dictionary of new words every day, and formed a company, Big Three Industries, that was launched on the New York Stock Exchange. This non-English-speaking immigrant became a powerful businessman. My own father sold newspapers at age 10. He didn’t join my grandfather’s company but went on to become a dentist.”

“I’m a rule follower, a disciplined person by nature, and I think things through carefully. I don’t make impulsive decisions and it has served me well. Many times, people have asked me, ‘Why did you do Kmart?’ Because I was open to the request from them to come in and see a collection that was reminiscent of Ralph Lauren. I saw the strength of their message and they produced beautiful clothes made of great fabric at an affordable price. It all made sense to me. I then chose Max Factor and the cross-merchandizing ended up being helpful to the two brands. My work ethic comes from my dad who always thought things through carefully and had a backup plan; he was always objective in his opinions. My Mom, however, threw caution to the wind and made decisions spontaneously, based on a feeling.”

Jaclyn’s business empire is vast: there’s her new Jaclyn Smith Collection which was launched on HSN in 2022. She has the Jaclyn Smith Style Collection which consists of her wigs and hair pieces. She also has Trend Fabrics and Jaclyn Smith Beauty. I ask her how she decides to pursue a particular business avenue.

“It’s instinct primarily,” she says, “and it’s also part luck. I start off by meeting the people. I met Joe Antonini from Kmart and liked him immediately. He worked his way from the stock room to chairman of the board. I gravitate towards people I consider friends. All my branding partners that have formed my team I consider friends. My whole branding collection is on HSN. I’m out there selling for a full hour, and I work with hosts who are amazing. HSN is my calling card to the world because they reach so many people. It’s wholly different from Kmart which is all about store appearances, shaking hands, having your hands on what you are making, and being authentic. If you’re not authentic, people won’t buy from you. I think a lot of my success is tied into people believing me because I wear the clothes that I make. What I show them is that you don’t have to spend $1000 on a blouse to look fabulous. I share my closet and what works for me. Quality and price can be combined.”

“Branding appears to be quite different from my acting career but in the end, it’s all about being artistic and working under that creative umbrella. They complement one another and I’ve learned from them all.”

Jaclyn is quick to give credit and she articulates her enormous gratitude to the people who have helped her along her business journey.

“Kmart taught me so much,” she says appreciatively, “particularly about branding: how to cut a price, and still have the quality for the mass market. I owe so much credit to Kmart. They were merchants, not investment bankers.”

Most people don’t know that Jaclyn is a breast cancer survivor, and that is one of the reasons her Jaclyn Smith Style Collection of wigs and hairpieces is so successful.

“I took a hard look at the wigs that were on the market,” she explains, “and I found that they were so expensive, so I figured out a way to provide beautiful wigs to women at an affordable price. We worked at City of Hope for ten years, and I’d put my wigs on cancer patients and noticed how their demeanor changed positively – almost immediately. It felt good to me to be able to give back, and our company worked with City of Hope and donated all the wigs.”

Jaclyn’s fabric line is only sold to interior designers and she’s particularly proud of her new collection, which will be used in her own home.

She draws an interesting analogy between her acting career and entrepreneurship:

“Branding appears to be quite different from my acting career but in the end, it’s all about being artistic and working under that creative umbrella. They complement one another and I’ve learned from them all.”

I ask her what she considers the highlights of her business journey:

“My 35 years at Kmart felt like a real accomplishment. When I embarked on HSN, it was a challenge at first, but I love it when I walk down the street, and someone will come up to me and comment on the purse they bought from my collection 20 years ago. I like to know that I’ve created a line that has served people well. I’m grateful to still be working at my age. It fulfills me and I’m still hitting my stride. I love to work and go out on a limb. That’s where the fruit is and that’s what I always tell my children.”

We complete our invigorating chat with the topic that nourishes Jaclyn’s soul the most: her family. She has a son, Gaston, and a daughter, Spencer Margaret, and three adorable granddaughters. She describes them.

“I’ve collected Impressionist art and that’s why I love to visit Paris. I could spend days in their museums. I also love the colors in Paris; the way they paint their wood. It all inspires my designs.”

“My two children are so totally different. My son has always been so close to me. He moved to Virginia, and married a girl with four children, and then had another baby. He left the film industry after a successful career because the inconsistency of the industry wasn’t for him, so he started a restaurant, called the ‘Local Cut’ in Purcellville, Virginia – which is very brave – and I’m very proud of him. His strong work ethic is always evident. Like me, he has a strong sense of family. My daughter is the most incredible mother I’ve ever witnessed. She’s certified in yoga and is such an all-encompassing mother to her daughter. Her parenting style is very different from mine; it’s less structured and she lets Bea (my granddaughter) be who she is. When I visit their home, there’s artwork everywhere and there’s a freedom to that. My children understand the importance of family. They both adored my mother, and they miss her to this day, Family is the only thing that truly lasts, and my kids know that. I’m doing a book, and each of them wrote something about my mom. Their words were so beautiful.”

Jaclyn has been married to Dr. Brad Allen for 27 years. I ask her what she considers to be the best marital ingredients.

“You are two different people, and you have to establish something deep and soulful. You also must compromise sometimes. I’m fortunate in that I found a truly good man who is the best stepfather in the whole world. He truly loves my children and will do anything for them. We share the same values; we go to church; we have the same spiritual upbringing; all that helps. As different as we are, our values and our moral codes are the same. It saddens me to see how quickly people want to give up on marriage today. There’s so much value in going the distance. The shared memories are priceless. Brad takes care of me; he’s protective; he doesn’t want to see me hurt. Those are invaluable gifts. I worry about today’s dating apps that have turned love into a business that is all about assets. Being prescriptive and transactional are not healthy components in human relationships.”

We talk about food and Jaclyn doesn’t hesitate to say,

“Breakfast is my favorite meal. I love pancakes. For 40 years I had two poached eggs on toast. I wouldn’t want to give up pizza or hamburgers, but I am married to a heart surgeon, so we do eat healthfully and have occasional indulgences.”

Jaclyn’s favorite movie of all time is – without any indecision – Gone with the Wind.

“I like that period in history before the civil war. I love Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh, and I find the movie authentic. The costumes, hair and makeup are excellent, too. There is not a flaw in that movie; it’s so realistic and it holds up today. As tragic as Vivien Leigh’s life was, she was an incredible actress.”

Jaclyn’s favorite place is – not surprisingly……

“Home! It’s my favorite place in the world. I love gardening, and especially love tending to my roses. When I have time, pruning them is my meditation. There’s a strong sense of history in my home (it’s a Georgian Colonial). I gravitate towards the past and I love antiques and antique fairs. I also like to see the human hand in furniture. I’ve collected Impressionist art and that’s why I love to visit Paris. I could spend days in their museums. I also love the colors in Paris; the way they paint their wood. It all inspires my designs. Most of all, I love having my three granddaughters, Bea, Olivia and Wren around. They are so much fun and such characters. They take me back to innocence, to joy, and guess what? I’ve started to emulate my daughter! Whatever my granddaughters want to do, they can! I’ve made progress!”

Jaclyn’s wisdom is encased in her genuine appreciation of the beauty of life.

“Life is here for the taking, right now! We must make hay while the sun is shining. I want more unstructured time with my loved ones. In the summer, I’d like to rent out a big house on the water in an area that evokes happy memories – and bring the whole family together! I’d like to do an African Safari and see the gorillas in their natural habitat.”

Her descriptions paint an enchanting lifescape. But while most people stop at the dream – Jaclyn has mastered the art of seizing the moment and converting her dreams into realities – with priceless memories that will last in her family for generations.