Renowned for her stellar performances on the big screen, television, and stage, Glenn Close’s talents extend far beyond acting. A passionate advocate for mental health, a fearless leader, and a true warrior, she leaves an indelible mark on the world, transforming lives one person at a time. Myself included. Glenn Close isn’t just a global icon; she’s my unwavering champion. Despite the saying, “Never meet your heroes,” I had the incredible opportunity to meet Glenn a year ago, and my life has been changed for the better ever since.
When we met at the Two Bridge Changing the World event nearly a year ago, Glenn, who was speaking as a mental health advocate on the panel, was extraordinary and full of love. From that very first moment, she embraced me, my story, and my desire to make a difference.
Throughout the event, Glenn took me under her wing, introducing me to numerous individuals with remarkable careers and diverse backgrounds, each offering valuable insights. I distinctly remember engaging in conversations with Glenn and others about her portrayal of Alex Forrest in Fatal Attraction, a character often perceived as a villain despite her underlying psychological struggles. I also fondly recall sharing with her one of the most delicious ice cream cups I’ve ever tasted. And there was a memorable moment when Glenn and I took my BeReal, which, looking back, is by far the coolest one I ever took. 
As the evening unfolded, and I learned more about Glenn, her story, and her work, I felt compelled to make it a personal mission to nurture and intentionally expand our connection following this first meeting.
A few days later, as my time in NYC was wrapping up, I had the privilege of meeting with Glenn once more. We shared a delightful evening, dinner, and engaging conversations alongside writer and lecturer Andrew Solomon. Little did I realize, that these days marked the start of a profound and meaningful friendship. A few weeks ago, I had the immense honor of reconnecting with her face-to-face via Zoom, each of us comfortably settled in our own living rooms.
As my role on the Advisory Board for Born This Way Foundation, and as the founder of Fundación FundaMental in Mexico City continues to develop, I found it fitting to reconnect with Glenn and learn firsthand about her journey in founding Bring Change to Mind (BC2M). This organization is dedicated to eradicating the stigma and discrimination associated with mental illnesses. Through their peer-to-peer approach in high school clubs across the United States, they’re undoubtedly bringing transparency and honesty to mental health advocacy. When I inquired about the origin of BC2M and the journey behind it, Glenn shared:
“We founded BC2M around a big table in NYC, at Fountain House, a club atmosphere, and people who run the club are people living with mental illness. I wanted to go and learn about the people that I was gonna advocate for. I wanted to be beside them, I wanted to look them in the face. […] So I went in and I volunteered in the kitchen, I volunteered in their horticulture, and I volunteered on their newspaper, helping members to write an article. “
For those unfamiliar with Glenn’s journey, here’s a brief overview: Her older sister, Jessie Close, a renowned author and advocate, struggles with bipolar disorder, while her nephew, Calen, an artist, was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder several years ago. In Jessie’s book Resilience: Two Sisters and a Story of Mental Illness, she delves into the intricate challenges of living with such diagnoses, exploring the profound impacts on both her personal and professional life, and detailing her ongoing journey of managing them.
All of these experiences ultimately propelled Glenn, alongside Jessie and Calen, to unite their voices through the power of their shared story and the poignant stigma they’ve experienced firsthand surrounding mental illnesses. This collective drive led them to establish BC2M.
“My sister Jessie, who lives with bipolar disorder, she came in, and for her, it was a great experience because she felt she was with her people. So that was my beginning. It was here I decided I wanted to start something. [….] And so we just started, Jessie, Calen and I. The obvious thing was that nobody was talking about it. And it was that secrecy, that kind of veil of unknowingness that really has for centuries fit into the stigma. […]And so that was our first, and still is, very much a core tenant of BC2M is just [to] start talking about it. And here we are today, it’s getting stronger and stronger. “
At the age of 77, Glenn continues her fight for mental health, relentlessly working to dismantle stigma and foster candid, vulnerable conversations on the subject. Although she says it has not been easy:
“I realized how much I need to do something. […] And I also think “Oh, I’m a white-haired woman” and you pass somebody in the street and I think it’s the tendency of people to say ‘Oh there’s an old woman, what can she possibly have in her life that [is] interesting?’. And that’s bullsh*t. So I’m gearing up to try to create something in our high schools, even if I am a 77-year-old woman. The fact that we’re losing lives [to suicide] is absolutely unacceptable.”
Glenn embodies resilience and advocacy, qualities I greatly admire. In addition, her talent as an actress is undeniable, with eight impressive Oscar nominations showcasing her impact in the film industry. As I’ve shared in previous Channel Kindness stories, filmmaking holds a special place in my heart—it’s a true passion of mine. It was only natural for me to inquire about Glenn’s work as an actress in impactful and transcendent films, and how she balances this with her advocacy:
“I’m doing what I should be doing in life, which is being an actress. That’s what I think my job is in this life, and I’ve tried to find pieces that I think that contribute positively to the human experience rather than negatively. So I came to the conclusion that I had to let other people run BC2M, take it. And they have. […] I think I had to just let it go and let other people be in the trenches., and I think of myself as an ambassador. I will talk about mental health anywhere, it doesn’t just have to be around BC2M. As you know, we have to talk about it.”
Engaging in a conversation about mental health advocacy and filmmaking with Glenn proved deeply impactful. Throughout her career, she’s portrayed iconic characters like Cruella de Vil (101 Dalmatians), Alex Forrest (Fatal Attraction), Marquise Isabelle de Merteuil (Dangerous Liaisons), Joan Castleman (The Wife), Deb (Four Good Days), and numerous others. Glenn shared her thoughts about embodying these roles:
“I’ve always played these complex, strong women. I’ve always thought that a lot of them are trying to make their way in a male world, but I’m not like that at all. In fact, there are days when I have to force myself to come out of my head. I’m very much an introvert. And so to go out actually and proselytize about something, or make speeches about something, is not easy for me. I don’t think of myself as a perfect advocate because I’m sure there’s so much more I can do.”
Glenn’s words serve as a reminder that we should aim toward a deeper activism within the mental health advocacy scope. As I work on my own mental health organization, FundaMental, I carry her spirit, generosity, and kindness with me. Getting to personally know Glenn has been one of the most enriching and beautiful experiences of my life. She embodies the essence of a mentor, a lifeline, and a cherished friend. Whether through her captivating performances or her tireless advocacy, Glenn undoubtedly leaves a positive impact on all she encounters, filling them with warmth and kindness. Her resilience is not only inspiring but also grounding, reminding us of our shared humanity, with dreams, aspirations, and motivations. In every sense, Glenn is a catalyst for change, an advocate, igniting transformative impact in the lives of millions while paving the way for others, including myself, to step up and foster change within society. She is a hero, a friend, and a force reshaping the world. She is Glenn Close.
