Susan Sarandon has reflected on the demanding preparation behind her role in the 1998 drama Stepmom, saying she had to lose a significant amount of weight to portray Jackie Harrison, a mother living with terminal cancer. Speaking on a recent podcast, the Oscar-winning actress said the physical transformation was part of her commitment to making the character feel authentic. She explained that she planned the production carefully so she could lose the weight before Christmas, then travel to Morocco and enjoy the holidays with her family. As both star and producer, Sarandon said she had the flexibility to arrange filming around her personal schedule.
Sarandon also said the role carried deep emotional meaning for her. She drew on conversations with families affected by cancer and on her own experiences as a mother to better understand the fears and responsibilities facing a parent in Jackie’s situation. For Sarandon, the film was not only about playing someone who is dying, but also about showing the emotional impact that illness has on children, family members, and caregivers. She said she wanted to portray that reality with honesty rather than sentimentality.
The actress said she chose director Chris Columbus partly because of his easy rapport with children, which she felt was important for the young actors on set, including Jena Malone and Liam Aiken. Sarandon wanted the production to feel safe and supportive for the child performers, and she believed Columbus helped create that environment. Her connection to the younger cast members became one of the lasting parts of the experience, reflecting the film’s focus on family bonds and trust during difficult times.
Sarandon said Stepmom affected her personally as a parent. She noted that becoming a mother changed how she thought about mortality, safety, and the amount of time she wanted to be alive for her children. She admitted that she did not think much about death before having kids, but that parenthood made those questions unavoidable. The film, in her view, brought those feelings to the surface and gave her a chance to explore them through her work.
For Sarandon, the role became more than a performance. She described the project as an opportunity to learn something about herself while exploring the emotional realities of motherhood, love, loss, and fear. The story of Stepmom continues to resonate because of its focus on a family dealing with illness and change, and Sarandon’s comments highlight how personally she connected with that material.
