By LOUIS B. HOBSON, CALGARY SUN

HOLLYWOOD -- Jane Seymour knows all about crashing weddings first-hand.

She wasn't the crasher. She was the crashee when she married her fourth and current husband, James Keach, in 1993.

That was the same year that the TV series Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman had turned her into an international celebrity.

"All the paparazzi crashed our wedding. We had to take away their film and destroy it," says Seymour, who plays Christopher Walken's wife in the comedy Wedding Crashers, opening Friday.

Walken is William Cleary, the Treasury secretary of the United States. Seymour, 54, is his lusty wife Kathleen 'Kitty Kat' Cleary, who in grand Mrs. Robinson-style tries to seduce Owen Wilson, a wedding crasher who has fallen in love with one of the Cleary daughters (Rachel McAdams).

FAMILY CONSULTED ON NUDE SCENE

The role called for a brief nude scene.

Seymour called a family meeting before she headed out to audition for the role.

"My husband thought it was a great little scene-stealing role, and he should know because he's a director.

"My daughter Katie Flynn, who's an actress, thought it was really cool that I'd get to play a sexy older woman."

Then came the big test. She had to confer with the 10-year-old twin boys she had with Keach.

"Anything their mom had to do with Owen Wilson was OK with the boys. He's one of their idols. They pleaded with me to do the movie."

Armed with the approval of her family, Seymour set out for the audition.

"I hadn't auditioned for 30 years. It was intimidating. I stuffed everything I could get my hands on into my bra," recalls Seymour.

Director David Dobkin insisted she do the seduction scene miming the nude moment.

"The first time I did the scene, it was with a female casting director. I told David it just wasn't working. I needed a man.

"We had a break and they brought in this six-foot-six gorgeous hunk. That was all the motivation I needed. I aced the audition."

Seymour says the reason she wanted to do Wedding Crashers was that it's the first real slapstick comedy she's done in years.

"After Dr. Quinn, all anyone thinks of me for is dramas. I did my share of comedies in the past. Things like Heavenly Dog I'd like to forget, but I had fun doing most of the others because I'm a natural comedienne."

AND MORE COMEDY ON THE WAY

She's getting to exercise her comedy chops in her next film, Blind Guy, in which she will play a wacky psychiatrist. Seymour's husband is directing.

She is also playing a teacher in the youth comedy Odd Girl Out.

Seymour won't turn her back on dramas, especially if they are as high in quality as the Canadian film Touching Wild Horse, written by former Calgarian Murray McRae.

"I am so proud of that movie. It's one of the best things I've done in years because it was such a good script."

Seymour says she no longer has to work but longs to because she loves acting so much.

It's a far cry from 25 years ago. She was bankrupt and had to do anything she was offered.

"My husband at the time (David Flynn) was also my financial adviser, whom I trusted. He lost millions for me. I was major bankrupt.

"I did a lot of TV and some bad movies. I told people, 'Just pay me and I'll do it.'

"My husband finally left me with debts and two children."

Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman was one of three TV series Seymour was offered in 1992.

"I never thought it would be the hit it turned into," admits Seymour, who attributes her new wealth to the series.

"I'm financially secure again. It's a wonderful feeling. I'm laughing inside so it's no wonder I want to make other people laugh."

© Calgary Sun