In The Groove
  • Shop
    • In The Groove Shop
    • Fashion
    • -White Shirt Shop
    • Beauty
    • Lifestyle
    • Wellness
    • Groove Approved
  • Menopause Registry
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Wellness
  • Lifestyle
The 10 Spring Accessories For A Timeless Wardrobe
On Cloud Sneakers Are Our Favorites For Work...
The 30 Best Pairs Of Spring Loafers To...
Spring White Jeans Are Here – And We...
How To Wear A Canadian Tuxedo
8 Most Popular Myths About Face Oil, Debunked
The Best Spring Dresses Make Easy Instant Outfits
In Our Editors’ Carts: The 11 Things We’re...
30 Belts That Provide The Perfect Final Touch...
Mersea Will Be Your New Favorite Brand This...

In The Groove

Inspiring Women To Own Their Age & Style

  • Shop
    • In The Groove Shop
    • Fashion
    • -White Shirt Shop
    • Beauty
    • Lifestyle
    • Wellness
    • Groove Approved
  • Menopause Registry
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Wellness
  • Lifestyle

SIGN UP

Stay In The Groove

Subscribe for good times.
We'll party like it’s 1979.

CareerEntertainmentIn Conversation

In Conversation:
Sheila Nevins

Sheila Nevins discusses life after nearly 40 years at HBO.
by Susan Feldman April 15, 2019
In Conversation: <br>Sheila Nevins

Sheila Nevins book ” You Don’t Look Your Age and Other Fairy Tales” has just come out in paperback and it has two new glorious chapters and  even more “Sheila” to love. Now you don’t have any excuse for not reading and laughing and growing along with her, she is a fantastic storyteller and interview.

Up until recently, Sheila Nevins ran the documentary division of HBO, a position she held for 32 years. During her tenure, she oversaw more than 1,200 docs and gilded HBO’s crown with 32 Emmys and 26 Academy Awards. She also holds the record for most individual Emmy’s and arguably birthed the reality television genre with “Taxicab Confessions.” Nevins was the queen of all she surveyed in the world of truth-telling on film, so it’s not surprising that she now has a few choice words for her former male colleagues, as well as some candid thoughts on aging, being a workaholic and reconnecting with an old boyfriend.

You were certainly a groundbreaker. Can you share some wisdom about being a woman of a certain age in the television business?

It’s very odd to be invisible. HBO was my home for a total of 38 years, and I was lucky because as the bosses were changing, I was becoming aware that I was doing a very good job, but I was also being left behind, interrupted and simply not asked to join.

But you were always producing such great stuff.

It didn’t matter. My experience is that men are just not comfortable with an older woman in the room. The older woman tends to talk back more. It was discomforting for them because I had confidence in myself. I disagreed. In other words, I became trouble.

So how did you become this incredibly confident woman? Where did you begin?

I was raised in NY and went to good schools: Barnard, and then I got an MFA in directing from the Yale School of Drama. My first career was at CBS–I was a researcher at “60 Minutes” and then an associate producer on a show called “Who’s Who.” They wanted me to go on camera, but I just didn’t want to do it. A girlfriend told me about HBO. What was cable anyway? I was raised without a television.

Of all the amazing projects you’ve worked on, do you have a favorite?

Not really. It’s usually whatever I’m currently working on. You know, now that I’m unemployed, what people are most interested in is my history. I didn’t even realize that I had a history. Then I wrote a book.

I loved your book. What motivated you to write it?

A friend, Joni Evans, was starting a website called WOW OH WOW, and asked me to contribute. I found it very easy to write stories. If a word doesn’t work, you just replace it. With a documentary, you bleed with every cut. I didn’t get paid, but I was in good company: Whoopi Goldberg, Candace Bergen, Lily Tomlin were all contributing. From that, I learned that I could write a book. It was actually easy.

The best part about writing the book was, at the publisher’s legal directive, to call all the living people in the stories and read the actual words I wrote about them. I had to call an old boyfriend that rejected me at Yale 50 years ago. He said, “The story is true and I was a coward.” I cried hearing that voice and remembering that hurt from so many years ago. He was a beautiful, blue-eyed blonde. It was like “The Way We Were.”

How are you finding your post-employment bearings? It looks like you’re pretty well set up here.

Yes, I have six shows I’m finishing up for HBO.

That sounds like a lot.

Well, I was doing forty-something—many were acquisitions and some children’s programming, too.

You’ve been a great collaborator. How do you like working by yourself?

It’s very hard, but you find out who matters. You find out who likes you for you. The ones who stick around really matter to you and that is compensatory.

What do you do besides work?

I never did anything but work and raise a child and tried to be as good a wife to my second husband (the good one of 42 years) as I was able. I like to buy things because I couldn’t have them when I was little. I love to travel.

Where to?

I like Cuba the best. I’ve been there twice. It was fantastic. Fascinating. Nicest people and they have nothing. They are falling apart at the seams.

So you’re pretty much a workaholic with a little travel thrown in…

Well, when a workaholic comes to standstill, it’s a difficult experience but I’m kind of enjoying it. It’s like having binoculars. I can see things I could never see before. I see friends, I see enemies. I see dishonesty that I thought was truth. I had ADD and tunnel vision–both very good qualities in an editing room but perhaps not so good when it comes to people. When you leave somewhere where all your worth is measured, you feel worthless.

I don’t know if that’s true. You’re incredibly successful; you’re just looking at things differently. I know from my own experience that it takes a little time. By the way, how old are you?

How old do you think I am.

You look good however old you are.

I’m 79.

I was going to say early 70’s.

79. I don’t care. I outlived everybody.

Do you feel your age?

I don’t know what my age is supposed to feel like because I’ve never been this age before! People always say, “You don’t look it, you don’t act it, you walk, you talk.” How do I know? My mother never made it to this age, my father never made it to this age. I’m prepared to die. I understand that. I’m not unrealistic about age. I mean, my joints are stiff, but I still run and walk and go to class. I don’t think I’m a miracle. I think I’m just alive. How old are you?

Have you ever lied about your age?

I lied for about 10 years and then my doctor said, “Why did you lie?” And I said, “About what?” Because I didn’t remember that I had, and I looked at the medical form and it said 43! “That’s moronic,” he said, I have to keep re-filing your insurance claims!” Ever since then, that was about 15 years ago, I stopped lying. It’s a terrible thing, age prejudice.

Two last questions for you: 1) If you had a superpower, what would it be?

I’m evil. I’d make four people disappear.

It’s a limited power. Like a genie with three wishes.

I’d like to keep the power forever in case I find the fifth.

Okay.

 If you had a warning label what would it say?

Seemingly ungrateful.

 

 

 

0
Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest Email
Susan Feldman

Related Posts

Bobbi Brown Is Back In Beauty, and Better...

April 8, 2021

Norma Kamali Is Only Getting Better With Age

March 3, 2020

Bridging The Gap With Bree Jacoby

February 11, 2021

In Conversation: Kate Lee

December 2, 2020

The Woman Who’s Changing Haircare As You Know...

July 28, 2020

In Conversation: Malene Barnett

January 17, 2020

In Conversation: Lenora Billings-Harris

March 7, 2019

Meet The Woman Behind The Luxury Beauty Brand...

October 29, 2019

Nutritionist Elissa Goodman Shares How She Fought Cancer...

December 30, 2018

In Conversation: Sheila Bridges

February 12, 2019

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Stay In The Groove

Subscribe for good times.
We'll party like it’s 1979.

Follow Us On Instagram

The strength of aging. 🔥 The strength of aging. 🔥
@levis 501s are arguably America’s greatest cont @levis 501s are arguably America’s greatest contribution to fashion. Whether you pair them with stilettos or sandals, a tee or a blouse, you know you’ll always look good. Head to the link in our bio to shop our favorites. 

https://liketk.it/44WQt

#levis #501levis #501s #denimstyle #denim #styleover50
We love this. ❤️ We love this. ❤️
Meet On Cloud Sneakers: These are not your splurge Meet On Cloud Sneakers: These are not your splurge-y fashion sneakers. These are working sneakers. These are support-your-arches, going on a serious hike, getting back in shape sneakers. But that doesn’t mean they still can’t be cute! I love the different color ways and On Cloud’s trademark squiggly sole. It will be love at first walk. And @bloomingdales has a fabulous selection. Head to the link in our bio to shop. #bloomingdales #ad #ltkshoecrush #ltkstyletip #ltkfit @shop.ltk #liketkit 

https://liketk.it/44M3e
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Youtube
  • Tiktok
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Affiliate Disclosure

@2022 - In The Groove | Terms Of Service | Privacy Policy

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT