Watch: Set to Receive Honorary Oscar, Gena Rowlands Reflects on Literature and Film

Gena Rowlands (“The Notebook,” “A Woman Under the Influence”) chased an acting career early on, but reading books really spurred her journey to the big screen. Ahead of accepting her Honorary Oscar at the Academy’s 7th Annual Governors Awards this Saturday, November 14, the actress gave a rare interview for the AMPAS web series, “Academy Originals.”

In Rowlands’ “What Movies Mean To Me” segment, she recalls her admiration for “All About Eve” star Bette Davis’s fierce independence: “it had a lot of bite to it.” And she felt empowered to partner with her actor/director husband John Cassavetes to usher in a new wave of independent cinema — that broke the mold of traditional storytelling in movies. Finally, she says: “When you’re loved, you’re liable to do some of your better work.” 

Actors revere Rowlands, among them Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, who hung out with the actress at last week’s AFI FEST opening night celebration of “By the Sea.”

READ MORE: The Academy Governors Do the Right Thing 

Spike Lee will also get an Honorary Oscar ahead of the Amazon Studios opening of “Chi-Raq.” His Academy video is here.