“Virgins, whores and mothers”: Actress Lea Thompson on how she surpassed Hollywood's expectations of her

When she was a young actress starting out in Hollywood a famous agent assessed Lea Thompson's options for her. "She told me, 'Here's your career, Lea: Virgins, whores and mothers.'" Looking back on that moment, she told Salon's Mary Elizabeth Williams on “Salon Talks” how she got the last laugh. "And then I realized why “Back to the Future” is such a great part — because I got to play a virgin, a whore and mother all in one movie."

Yet in a career that's spanned over three decades, Thompson has survived in her notoriously difficult industry by not just being a versatile performer but branching out as a director and producer. It runs in the family — her husband of nearly 30 years is director Howard Deutch, and her daughters Madelyn and Zoey Deutch write, produce and compose. "It's a unique household," she says. And it's taught her a lot about endurance.

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Hosted by Salon journalists, “Salon Talks” episodes offer a fresh take on the long-form interview format, and a much-needed break from the partisan political talking heads that have come to dominate the genre. “Salon Talks” is a destination for information through conversation. Viewers can expect discussions with A-list actors, artists, authors, thinkers, and newsmakers as we explore the full range of the human condition. The show streams live on YouTube and each episode is published in full on Salon.com.

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