Barbara Eden is best known as the titular character on “I Dream of Jeannie,” but the 94-year-old continues to prove she’s an acting star. In addition to her appearance on the globally loved sitcom, she starred in “Flaming Star” with Elvis Presley and the thriller “The Yellow Canary.”
Her acting credits span the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, with roles in “Harper Valley PTA” and “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” among many other shows, always making it clear that she is willing to take on different characters and prove that she’s a chameleon. So, when it comes to the next role that she would happily take, it should be of no surprise.
Barbara Eden Shares the Next Role She’d Like to Do
GettyWhen speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Eden expressed her hope for the next role that she would like to do. She wants to play a character who is “really mean,” and that connects back to her time on the show that made her famous.
In “I Dream of Jeannie,” she played two characters of that same name. The first was the main character we came to know and love, but the second was her evil twin sister. Eden went on to share that “Bad Jeannie was bad, you know.”
However, she doesn’t just want any role. She won’t say “yes” to absolutely anything out there, sharing that her one stipulation is, “If it’s well written, I’d probably do anything. If it’s well written.” Out of all the stars out there, she certainly deserves to have a say in the type of role she takes on next.
Fans would just like to see her back on the screen, with one commenter sharing, “I’d love to see her in something! She looks fab!”
Another commented on how happy they are for her, saying, “Love her, so happy she is still thriving!!!”
Barbara Eden Knows the Industry
GettySomething that Eden has learned about over the years is how the industry works. As she looked back at her career, it led to her thinking about her “I Dream of Jeannie” costar Larry Hagman. The two ended up reuniting on “Dallas” when she had a guest arc on the drama, and it’s something that Eden, who turns 95 on Aug. 25, noted turned his career around.
Up to Hagman landing the role of J.R. Ewing, he’d only been known for his comedy work, and it’s something Eden is sure pigeonholed him for a while. It happens to some of the best actors, leading to them being typecast, which, incidentally, is something the late Hayden Panettiere had once shared she didn’t want to happen to her.
Eden noted that up to “Dallas,” people just hadn’t seen the skill he had, despite her knowing the talent that he was on screen. She shared that the success of the prime time soap opera helped to change everyone’s minds, saying, “I think it helped him in his whole life…But it took so long for him to get it.”
As for the “South Pacific” star, her most recent role was as Melissa Gardener in “Love Letters” in 2025. With some hope, there will be a juicy villain for her to play soon, giving her a chance to delve into “Bad Jeannie” once more, because she’s right: “Bad Jeannie was bad” in a lot of exciting and hilarious ways. Getting to see her take on a more serious villain could be a highlight of her long-running career.
