In 1980, the romantic time-travel movie Somewhere in Time was released, starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour. The film has since become a classic—not just for its touching story, but also because of the real-life romance that blossomed between its two stars.
The Movie’s Story
The movie tells the tale of Richard Collier (played by Christopher Reeve), a playwright living in the present day who becomes obsessed with a beautiful woman from the past after seeing her portrait in a hotel. The woman, Elise McKenna (played by Jane Seymour), was a famous stage actress from the early 1900s.
Driven by a powerful sense of connection, Richard studies time travel and manages to transport himself back to Elise’s era through sheer will and hypnosis. When they finally meet, the two fall deeply in love, as if their souls had known each other forever.
But their happiness is short-lived. The laws of time begin to pull Richard back to his own era, and their love story ends tragically—leaving viewers heartbroken but deeply moved. The film ends with a spiritual suggestion that love can transcend time itself.
The screenplay was written by Richard Matheson, based on his 1975 novel Bid Time Return. Matheson was inspired by a real portrait of a turn-of-the-century actress named Maude Adams, which made him imagine a love story across time.
The Real-Life Love Story
During the filming of Somewhere in Time, something magical happened off-screen as well. Jane Seymour later revealed that she and Christopher Reeve fell madly in love while working together.
“When you watch the movie,” Jane said in an interview years later, “you’ll see the real thing. We were truly in love.”
Although they tried to keep their relationship private, some people on set noticed their deep affection. They were both single at the time, and for a while, life felt like a fairytale. Jane described that time as “wonderful and romantic in every way.”
A Heartbreaking End
Unfortunately, their love story didn’t last. Before filming ended, Christopher received unexpected news—his ex-girlfriend, Gae Exton, reached out to tell him that she was pregnant with his child. Christopher still had feelings for her, and he decided to end his relationship with Jane to return to Gae.
Jane later spoke about how painful that moment was. “I put on my big girl pants,” she said, “but I had tears halfway up my eyeballs.”
Despite the heartbreak, Jane said she never regretted the love they shared.
Life After the Movie
Christopher went on to have two children with Gae Exton, though the couple eventually separated in 1987. Later, he married Dana Morosini, who stood by him after the tragic horseback-riding accident that left him paralyzed. They remained together until his death in 2004.
Jane Seymour married four more times after Somewhere in Time. Yet, she said that she and Christopher remained close friends for the rest of his life. They saw each other on many occasions and shared a deep, lifelong bond.
Reflecting on him years later, Jane said softly,
“We met on many occasions and stayed really close friends, literally until the day he died. I have to believe that I will one day see him—somewhere in time.”
Legacy
Somewhere in Time has become a cult classic, cherished by fans for its haunting music, emotional depth, and timeless message that true love knows no boundaries—not even time itself.
And for those who know the story behind the scenes, the movie is even more poignant—because the love between Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour was as real as the one their characters shared.
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