Shirley MacLaine says Hollywood is ignoring their older audiences.

 
Honoree Shirley MacLaine speaks onstage at the 40th AFI Life Achievement Award honoring Shirley MacLaine held at Sony Pictures Studios on June 7, 2012 in Culver City, California. The AFI Life Achievement Award tribute to Shirley MacLaine will premiere on TV Land on Saturday, June 24 at 9PM ET/PST.
28 August 2012
The Weekender

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Shirley MacLaine has said that Hollywood ignore the older generation when they make movies.

The Steel Magnolias star, who will appear in the next season of Downton Abbey, said that money is what drives Hollywood, and that she thinks that the older audience is being left out.

She said: "I've calmed down a bit, maybe, but am having the time of my life. I've reached a point where I'm in sync with an audience of senior citizens, and am making four pictures for them this year.

"They have no movies made for them. How many times can you see Batman? Things are done according to money these days.

"It used to be vision which mattered more. Money becomes addictive. People have a hole in their heart and think they can fill it with material possessions. In the end, though, you have to fill that hole with spiritual understanding."

78-year-old MacLaine won an Oscar for her role in Terms of Endearment and is appearing as Martha Levinson, the American mother of Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham.

The actress sparked curiosity among the cast of the hit show when she admitted that she always falls in love while on set.

She said: "I told them I fell in love with someone on every picture I made for the first 30 years. People say the biggest part of my talent is curiosity. They wondered who it would be this time.

"I'm more real than you can imagine. But they were so cute because they were interested in people I've worked with, and when they mentioned Sinatra I went on from there.”

MacLaine also defended her role on the show, with many critics claiming that she is there to ‘pander to American audiences.

"It's not pandering. I'm a volleyball partner for (Dame) Maggie (Smith). Who else would they get? Let me think: Anthony Hopkins in drag," she said.

"I'm the same class as Maggie's character because we're both wealthy, but I confront her because I'm more involved with change."

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