Barbara Eden Wants a “Mean” Role at 95

Barbara Eden is still looking for challenging acting roles as she approaches her 95th birthday on Aug. 23. The television icon says she would particularly like to play a villain.

“I could be really mean,” Eden told Entertainment Weekly, recalling her role as Bad Jeannie, the mischievous twin of her beloved I Dream of Jeannie character. Eden played the brunette, green-clad counterpart in nine episodes of the sitcom and two later television films.

Eden says she remains open to almost any role, provided the script is strong. “If it’s well written, I’d probably do anything,” she said.

The actress will appear at the Cinecon Classic Film Festival on Sept. 5 to introduce All Hands on Deck, her 1961 comedy starring Pat Boone. Her film and television career also includes Flaming Star with Elvis Presley, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, The Yellow Canary, Harper Valley PTA, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Dallas.

Eden also reflected on her longtime friendship with Larry Hagman, her I Dream of Jeannie costar who later became famous as J.R. Ewing on Dallas. She believes the role gave Hagman the opportunity to demonstrate his dramatic range beyond comedy.

“I think that kind of saved him,” Eden said of Dallas and its success. Hagman played J.R. from 1979 to 1991 and reprised the role in the TNT revival before his death in 2012.

Eden’s most recent film appearance was in the 2019 holiday movie My Adventures with Santa. She has continued working on stage, including a 2025 performance of Love Letters.