Harrison Ford And Anne Heche's Age Difference In Six Days, Seven Nights Might Surprise You
While age gaps in Hollywood romance films involving a young woman and much older man have been prevalent for so long you'd think it was etched in stone, the last decade or so has seen many in the film industry question the standard, and even try to flip it. During press for "Jurassic World Dominion," for instance, Laura Dern and Sam Neill found themselves answering many questions about Grant and Ellie's relationship in "Jurassic Park," which featured a nearly 20-year age difference. As Neill remarked in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, "I'm not sure if these days you'd regard [the age gap] as suitable."
With the recent death of Anne Heche, many fans have started to take a closer look at her large body of work, including her on-screen romantic pairings. While the slight age difference between her and Johnny Depp in one of her best-known films, "Donnie Brasco," doesn't seem too odd, fans may be surprised to discover how much older Harrison Ford was when the pair starred in the romantic adventure flick "Six Days, Seven Nights."
Anne Heche was 26 years younger than Harrison Ford
Harrison Ford has had a few younger on-screen love interests throughout his career — Carrie Fisher was 14 years his junior in "Star Wars," and even Karen Allen in "Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark" was 9 years younger. In the 1998 film "Six Days, Seven Nights," Ford and Anne Heche played the romantic leads with a 26-year age gap between them. At the time of the film's release, Ford was 55 years old and Heche was 29.
Despite how the dynamic might have played out on-screen, Heche has spoken positively about Ford's support for her career. At the time, Heche was facing backlash due to her relationship with Ellen DeGeneres, but as she recalled to Vanity Fair, Ford stepped in to give her a vote of confidence. "He said, 'Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn who you're sleeping with. We have a romantic comedy to make. Let's make it the best one that's ever happened,'" Heche recalled Ford telling her. She went on to say, "That is why Harrison Ford is my hero. To stand behind me at such a time when the force of what I was standing up for could have been toppled."