Hats Off

With the style and grace of Katharine Hepburn, the smoky wit and wisdom of Dorothy Parker, and her own personal philosophy, “rise above it,” Ms. Weddell is truly an iconic American original, rising above the mundane and difficult confines of her own daily life to reach for the stars and fulfill her dreams.

Directed by Jyll Johnstone (Martha & Ethel, Throwing Curves), Hats Off captures the essence of this most unusual woman, named at age 90 by New York Magazine as one of the “50 Most Beautiful People in New York,” whose full-time acting career began at age 65 upon the passing of her husband, and whose daily routine mocks the traditional image of old age. From grueling 14-hour days at cattle call auditions to her weekly gymnastics and dance workouts, Ms. Weddell exudes a ‘can-do, will do’ attitude in the face of life’s trials and tribulations, and moves through her challenges with grace, encouraging us all to be more than we are.

When her beloved husband dies, “leaving nothing behind but bills, poor man,” Ms. Weddell does what she has to do to stay afloat; even attending an audition on the way to his memorial and landing the lead role in the cult film Dracula's Last Rites, which marks the beginning of her career. Since that time, 25 years ago, Ms. Weddell has been seen in print ads for Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Juicy Couture and Nike, to name a few; in photo spreads for Vanity Fair and Vogue; on TV series including “Sex and the City,” and “Law and Order;” and in feature films such as Across the Universe, Hitch and The Purple Rose of Cairo.