Julia Louis-Dreyfus Shares How Alzheimer's in Her Family Inspired Her Role in New Animated Movie
Julia Louis-Dreyfus Shares How Alzheimer's in Her Family Inspired Her Role in New Animated Movie
Jack SmartFri, May 15, 2026 at 12:15 PM UTC
0
Julia Louis-Dreyfus at the Cannes Film Festival premiere of 'Fatherland' on May 14
Credit: Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock
-
Julia Louis-Dreyfus joined the animated film Tangles due to personal connections to Alzheimer's in her family
The film, based on a graphic memoir, explores Alzheimer's impact on families through adult-focused animation
Tangles features a star-studded voice cast including Seth Rogen, Bryan Cranston, and Sarah Silverman
Julia Louis-Dreyfus had a personal reason for signing up for her new animated movie.
At the Cannes Film Festival on Thursday, May 14, the Veep Emmy winner sat down withThe Hollywood Reporter's Scott Feinberg for a retrospective career chat. Louis-Dreyfus, 65, is attending the fest to promote Tangles, an animated film from director Leah Nelson about a woman facing her mother's battle with Alzheimer's disease.
“There's Alzheimer's in my family,” shared the actress when asked about lending her voice to the drama. “My grandmother died of it and my mother-in-law is currently suffering with it.” Louis-Dreyfus has been married to Brad Hall since 1987; the two share sons Henry and Charlie.
Tangles counts Seth and Lauren Rogen among its producers; it was the latter who sent Louis-Dreyfus the script, she recalled, which couldn't help but resonate. “I understand the disease well and the toll that the disease can take on a family,” she said. “I'm living that as we speak.”
'Tangles'
Credit: Monarch Media/Point Grey/Lylas/Giant Ant
— sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Advertisement
Louis-Dreyfus and Seth Rogen are among the voice cast of the film, which includes Bryan Cranston, Pamela Adlon, Beanie Feldstein, Sarah Silverman, Abbi Jacobson, Samira Wiley, Wanda Sykes, Adam Shapiro and Bowen Yang. It's based on Sarah Leavitt's 2010 graphic memoir Tangles: A Story about Alzheimer's, My Mother and Me.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus and her family on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010
Credit: Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty
“I was immediately intrigued by this project too because it was based on this extraordinary graphic novel, and the idea of tackling this subject through animation geared towards adults was so intriguing to me,” explained Louis-Dreyfus.
“Ultimately, this movie is certainly about communication and being in community and the value of family,” she added. “All of that is sorely needed right now, certainly in our country, and globally, you could argue. I'm hopeful that this film, when people see it, they might take away a new way of approaching those they love during difficult moments.”
In addition to the release of Tangles following its Cannes premiere, Louis-Dreyfus lent her voice to another film: as a sheep inThe Sheep Detectives, in theaters now.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
