Susan Sarandon is a Glamorous Gran

IF you ask any man over the age of 50 if they’ve seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show movie, they’ll likely remember one character more than others. And it isn’t Frank N Furter.

Susan Sarandon shot to fame as Janet in the musical comedy. Her saucy role set hearts racing among the 1970s audience including me.

I went on to star in the Rocky Horror Picture Show in London’s West End and did some of my research by watching and rewatching the movie. Especially that scene when Susan is in her undies.

These days, Susan is playing a granny alongside Melissa McCarthy and Alison Janney in comedy road movie, Tammy. It seems far too soon for Susan to be playing a grandmother, but it turns out she’s now 67.

I couldn’t believe that when I got to sit down with her last week. She still looks stunning and has that wicked smile and twinkle in her eye. So what is her secret?

“Someone came to my room this morning and spent an hour and a half making me look like this. I’m kidding!” she cackled. “Women these days are taking more care of themselves. Women don’t smoke as much. I don’t smoke and don’t drink to excess.

“I stay away from things that damage me like the sun and watch what kind of food I eat. Smiling helps! I’m very typical of 67-year-old women now. I’m not a health fanatic.”

When I ask her what age she feels she is, Susan dismissed the idea. “Age doesn’t figure into the way I think. It’s a detail.”

Susan is known for her activism, but it’s not something she shoves down anyone’s throat.

One of my favourite movies of hers is 1988 comedy Bull Durham, where she plays a sexy baseball fan. Tim Robbins co-starred and the pair began a relationship that lasted until 2009.

In that time, she starred in Ridley Scott’s iconic road movie, Thelma And Louise. Of course, there was a young actor debuting in that movie who did alright too I think his name was Bradley Pitt or something.

“He was on set looking great and really professional,” Susan added. “But when I saw Thelma and Louise and the scenes with him in the jail, that’s when I thought, ‘This guy is going to be really special’.

“He’s got a great sense of humour, timing and he’s really smart. He’s more than just a pretty face. And, since then, any time I’ve run into him he’s been great. I love that he’s so politically aware and a family man, too. He’s a good guy.”

Susan plays the gran in Tammy and had to spend a lot of time in make-up un-glamorising herself.

“She’s got this traditional grandma thing, but she’s also carrying round a six-pack of beer,” Susan added. “She’s feisty I like that about her!

“At the end of the day there was a freedom in not having to worry about what I looked like. I could accentuate the things we all normally hide.

“Sometimes women gain weight or make themselves look different for a role and people aren’t as accepting as when guys do it. So I don’t know what the reaction is going to be. Hopefully people will like it.”

Susan is enjoying the practice for being a grandmother she’s about to become one herself for the first time as her daughter Eva is due to have her baby in August.

Just don’t call her “granny” though!

Susan said: “I can hardly believe it! We were trying to think of a grandma name so my daughter came up with Honey. It’s a southern name for grandmother. Hopefully that’ll stick.”