Hollywood’s classic cult film ‘The Notebook’ was released in the year 2004. Gena Rowlands was seen in an important role in this film. She was seen playing the character of the elderly Rachel McAdams, who suffers from Alzheimer’s. While the release of this film has completed 20 years, it has been revealed that Gena Rowlands has been battling Alzheimer’s in real life for the last five years.
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She suffered from the same disease that she acted in
Director Nick Cassavetes is Gena Rowlands’ son. While talking to the media, he said, ‘My mother has been suffering from Alzheimer’s for the last five years. My mother played the character of ‘Ellie’ in the film ‘The Notebook’ and ‘Ellie’ also had the same disease. She was also suffering from Alzheimer’s. The disease that my mother played in the film, she has the same disease in real life. I can’t tell you how I am feeling.’
Gena Rowlands did a lot of research
Nick Cassavetes further says, ‘I asked my mother to play the role of the older ‘Ellie’. I did not know that my mother would suffer from the same disease. This is very surprising. How can this happen? My mother did a lot of research to play that role so that everything in the film looks absolutely authentic. She just acted in the film, but we are living it every day. This is very painful.’
Gena Rowlands’ mother was also an Alzheimer’s patient
According to media reports, Gena Rowlands’ mother was also suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. In the year 2004, Gena gave an interview to a magazine. During that time she said, ‘My mother was also suffering from Alzheimer’s. I decided to play the role of ‘Ellie’ in the film after seeing them. It was quite difficult for me. If Nick had not directed the film, I don’t think I would have been able to play this character. It was a great film’.
