Glenn Close is the rare Hollywood legend who actually has a presence in your kid’s world, whether they know her face from a 90s puppy-heist movie or are about to see her dominate the screen in the next Hunger Games prequel. While most actors her age are relegated to "grandmother" roles, Close is still playing the most interesting, often most terrifying person in the room, making her a perfect bridge for parents looking to move their kids from "cartoon villains" to "complex characters."
TL;DR: Glenn Close is transitioning from her definitive turn as Cruella de Vil to a powerhouse role in the upcoming Hunger Games prequel, Sunrise on the Reaping. Beyond her acting, her work with Bring Change to Mind is the gold standard for celebrity advocacy, offering a real-world way to talk to teens about mental health without the usual cringe.
Before the 2021 Emma Stone origin story tried to make the character a misunderstood anti-hero, Glenn Close gave us the pure, high-fashion nightmare fuel of the 1996 101 Dalmatians. It is still a top-tier family watch. Close doesn't wink at the camera; she plays Cruella with a terrifying, manic commitment that makes the stakes feel real, even in a movie about talking dogs.
If your kids have only seen the animated version, the live-action film is a great "step up" movie. It introduces the idea of a performance—how an actor uses costume, voice, and physicality to build a presence. It’s campy, but it’s played straight, which is why it holds up thirty years later.
The biggest reason Glenn Close is hitting parent radars right now is her casting in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. The film is set to drop soon, and based on the first book details, it covers the 50th Hunger Games—the year Haymitch Abernathy won.
Close is expected to play a high-ranking Capitol official, and honestly, it’s a casting masterstroke. She specializes in "composed intensity," which is the exact vibe of the Panem elite. For kids who have already worked through the original Hunger Games series, Close’s involvement signals that this isn't just a cash-grab sequel; it’s going to be a heavy, well-acted addition to the lore. It’s a great excuse to revisit the earlier films or the best books for kids list to see how the prequel’s themes of power and propaganda stack up against the original trilogy.
While her filmography is stacked, the most useful thing about Glenn Close for a Screenwise parent is her advocacy. She co-founded Bring Change to Mind (BC2M) after her sister and nephew were diagnosed with mental health disorders.
This isn't a "celebrity face on a billboard" situation. BC2M focuses specifically on ending the stigma of mental illness through high school clubs and peer-to-peer conversation. If you have a teen who is starting to navigate the social pressures of high school, looking into their local BC2M chapter is a great move. It reframes mental health from a "problem to be solved" to a "conversation to be had." Close uses her platform to normalize these discussions, making her a rare celebrity whose off-screen life provides more value to families than her IMDb page.
If your kid becomes a fan, there are a few other places to find her that aren't just for adults.
- Tarzan: She provides the voice for Kala, Tarzan's adoptive gorilla mother. It’s the emotional heart of the movie and shows her range—she can do "deeply nurturing" just as well as "puppy-obsessed fashionista."
- Hook: This is a fun "did you spot her?" moment. She plays Gutless, the pirate who gets put in the "Boo Box." She’s unrecognizable under a beard and pirate gear, which is a great way to talk to kids about the craft of acting and how stars can disappear into roles.
When you're watching Close on screen, the conversation isn't usually about the plot—it's about the presence.
Ask your kids: "How does she make you feel when she enters a scene?" Close is a master of status. Even when she’s playing a villain, she commands the room. Talking about how she uses her voice or her posture to show power is a stealthy lesson in social intelligence.
With the upcoming Hunger Games film, the conversation shifts to the Capitol: "Why do the people in power in Panem look and act so differently from the people in the Districts?" Close is likely to be the face of that divide, making her a perfect case study in how "villainy" often looks like "politeness" in the wrong hands.
Q: Is the 1996 101 Dalmatians too scary for little kids?
The movie is rated G, but Glenn Close is intense. There isn't graphic violence, but her Cruella is genuinely threatening in a way that might rattle very sensitive 4- or 5-year-olds. For most elementary schoolers, it’s just the right amount of "Disney scary."
Q: What is Glenn Close's role in the new Hunger Games movie?
While official plot details are still being guarded, she is set to play a pivotal Capitol figure in Sunrise on the Reaping. The film focuses on the 50th Games, and her character is expected to be a mentor or political powerhouse who helps shape the version of Panem we see in the later films.
Q: How can my teen get involved with Bring Change to Mind?
BC2M has thousands of high school clubs across the country. You can check their website to see if your kid’s school has one, or find resources on how to start a chapter. It’s a student-led way to tackle mental health stigma through events and open discussion.
Glenn Close is a legend because she never phones it in. Whether she’s playing a gorilla mother or a Capitol socialite, she brings a level of craft that makes for better viewing. Use her Cruella as a fun family throwback, her upcoming Hunger Games role as a reason to talk about political power, and her mental health advocacy as a way to connect with your teen on stuff that actually matters.
- Check out our best movies for kids list for more live-action classics that hold up.
- Revisit the Panem lore with our Hunger Games parent guide before the new movie drops.
- Find more actors who do great advocacy work
