PIPER LAURIE: Life Is a JOURNEY

The Oscar-nominated actress looks back at the long road she has traveled

- Susan Hornik

Piper Laurie is one of those P rare performers with a career that has transcended time, mixed genres and bypassed the sort of typecasting imposed upon many actors. Signed by Universal Studios in her youth, her co-stars included Rock Hudson, Tony Curtis, Donald O'Connor and more. In 1962, she received her first Oscar nomination for playing Sarah, an alcoholic, down-on-her-luck college student in The Hustler. Not long after, Piper left Hollywood for Woodstock, N.Y., where she adopted a daughter, Anne. She triumphantly returned a decade later and received two more Oscar nominations for her chilling role in 1976's Carrie and as the protective mother of Marlee Matlin's character in 1986's Children of a Lesser God.

The petite thespian, who turned 90 this year, admits that it's all gone by in the blink of an eye. "It makes me laugh," Piper tells Closer. "When I actually became 90, that figure was not real to me. But I'm proud that I've survived everything for all these years."

You were just honored at the TCM Classic Film Festival. How did it feel to be chosen?

It means a great deal. It sort of symbolizes grand old Hollywood, and it's really very nice to be included in that!

You were born in Detroit but grew up in California. What did you imagine yourself doing in those early years?

I wanted to do something wonderful and change the world. I think most people who go into the arts have that desire.

Was your family supportive?

My mother was, my dad was very negative. I used to go to acting classes. One night I remember my father begged me to give it all up. He said, "What's the point of this? It's so expensive to go to classes!" I didn't know what to say. I wanted him to be wrong.