She opened up earlier this month about her “reclusive” life in London after moving to Britain from the United States.
And Stockard Channing made a rare departure from her under-the-radar routine on Wednesday as she walked the red carpet at the European premiere of Practical Magic 2 at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London.
The 82-year-old Grease star cut an elegant figure in a dark blue suit in what was her first red carpet appearance in two years.
The Daily Mail has contacted Channing for comment.
The actress was lured back into the spotlight to celebrate the sequel to 1998’s Practical Magic, in which Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman played Sally and Gillian Owens respectively, a pair of sisters from a long line of witches who were struck by a curse that kills any man they truly love.
Channing reprises her role from the first film as their aunt Frances Owens, who is also a fellow witch, while Dianne Wiest plays their other aunt, Bridget “Jet” Owens.
Stockard Channing, 82, made a rare red carpet appearance at the European premiere of Practical Magic 2 at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London, marking her first red carpet appearance in two years after moving from Maine to London years earlier
Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman star as a pair of sisters and witches cursed to make every man they love die in Practical Magic 2, while Channing and her costar Dianne Wiest reprise their roles as their eccentric aunts.
The two veteran stars shared a sweet reunion in which Channing hugged and held hands with 78-year-old Wiest.
Channing looked chic in a navy blue suit, which she contrasted with a white button-up blouse that was left open at the top to accentuate her chunky chain-style necklace, which ended in a large silver ring.
The stage and screen star added some extra sparkle with a pair of huge dangling silver earrings that hung down past her shoulders.
She completed her look with black platform heels and a dark leather bag, and she wore her dark brown hair with highlights in thick waves that framed her toned face.
Practical Magic 2 features new stars Joey King and Maisie Williams as the daughters of Bullock’s character.
Lee Pace also joins the series as a scholar who studies witchcraft and falls in love with her.
Channing rose to fame decades earlier as Rizzo in the 1978 musical Grease, in which she epitomized Americana.
She later introduced herself to a new generation by playing First Lady Abbey Bartlet on The West Wing.
Channing looked chic in a navy blue suit, which she contrasted with a white button-up blouse that was left open at the top to highlight her chunky chain-like necklace, which ended in a large silver ring.
Channing and Wiest, 78, looked friendly and affectionate as they hugged and held hands on the red carpet
Channing and Wiest were joined on the red carpet by new stars (L–R) Maisie Williams and Joey King, director Susanne Bieber, Bullock, Kidman, Solly McLeod and Xolo Mariduena
Despite being famous for these roles and many others on film, TV and in theatre, Channing revealed earlier this month that she is happy with her quiet life in London.
During a conversation with the Sunday Times Magazineshe describes how she moved to London from Maine in 2019 following the devastating death of her partner, producer Dan Gillham, in 2014.
The New York-born star, who has been married four times, has lived alone since her partner died over a decade ago, and in the interview she stated: “I’m glad I’m a recluse.”
Channing added: “Children were thought of and yes, I’m thinking about them now because it would be great to have someone take care of me. But hey, children can be just as selfish as anyone else.’
She noted that the election of President Trump was another reason for her decision, explaining how Gillham’s death was “more devastating than I realized; it had a delay effect. The pattern of my life changed, so I changed my life from Maine.”
“It vaguely coincided with Trump’s election and the way politics in the US has changed,” she said.
“People watch The West Wing and say, ‘Wow, wasn’t it great when politicians had an ounce of integrity?’
Channing has been married and divorced four times in her decades-long career. She married her first husband, a wood sculptor named Walter Channing Jr, in 1963 and they separated in 1967.
She then married Paul Schmidt, a professor, in 1970, but they divorced after six years. Her third marriage was to writer and producer David Deblin, with whom she was together from 1976 to 1980.
Channing opened up about her “reclusive” life in London after moving from the US earlier in August in an interview with the Sunday Times Magazine; pictured in February 2025 in London
Channing is happy with her quiet life in London and explains how she moved from Maine in 2019 following the devastating 2014 death of her partner, the producer Dan Gillham (pictured in 1998)
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Channing subsequently married businessman David Rawle in 1980. Eight years later they went their separate ways. She then entered into a relationship with Gillham, a cinematographer and producer, in 1990 and they were together until his death in 2014.
The Grease star is currently making her theatrical directorial debut with a production of the one-act play, Krapp’s Last Tape, at the Edinburgh Festival.
In Samuel Beckett’s classic, which premiered in 1958, David Westhead plays the title role of a 69-year-old man who reflects on his life through old tape recordings.
Channing’s decision to direct the play is rooted in her friendship and creative collaboration with Rawle and their desire to raise money for The Wembley to Soweto Foundation.
