Lunch with a JAWS legend: Meeting Miss Amity Island 1978 Ann Dusenberry
Surreal….. that’s the only way I can describe how it feels when waiting to meet someone you have watched and revered for nearly 40 years. I am sitting in a cosy London bistro, watching the door eagerly for the appearance of a JAWS legend… Ann Dusenberry aka Tina Wilcox from JAWS 2.
Ann and I had already ‘met’ a couple of months ago by Zoom when recording The Daily Jaws series of JAWS 2 45th anniversary interviews. Ann was sweet, kind and very generous with her time and attention - even though it was 8am her time!
At the end of the interview, she mentioned she had a place here in London and said she’d love to meet up next time she was here. Something I hear alot from guests on our show who I’m sure are sincere in their suggestion but alas rarely follow through. So I was genuinely thrilled when one morning I saw an email sitting at the top of my inbox titled ‘Ann Dusenberry here in London’ .
Ann was indeed coming to London and was keeping her promise to meet up. How could I turn down a chance to meet and spend some time with Miss Amity Island 1978?!! I immediately accepted Ann’s invitation and cofirmed the details.
I arrived a little early, chose a table and waited… and not for long. Ann was a little early too, which caught me a little off guard but is absolutely who she is. A woman of her word. After recognising the bright, blonde hair, Ann’s winning smile beamed straight at me putting me at instant ease.
She took off her wet coat (of course it was raining, this is London), we hugged and sat down. It took me a moment to settle into the idea I was going to be spending the next few hours with THE Ann Dusenberry.
As standard english social protocol, we made quick comments about the weather. Ann explained how much she loved London’s climate as California (where spends much of her time) hasn’t had rain in 8 months. Ann felt London brings cooler weather, a calmer more cultutally rich environment. I told her how much I’d love to experience anywhere else!
Ann explsined how she had spent the previous day in Brighton with another fan. From the way she was recounting her time, it was clear she had ha a wonderful time visiting the Sea Life centre and other new places. Even though she had recently celebrated her 70th birthday, Ann’s appetite for life was evident.
Over the next couple of hours, we talked about JAWS (a little), how her life started in Tuscon, her getting into acting and the challenges of building and maintaining a career in an extremely tough industry. Ann was very open about her upbringing and personal struggles which I think may be a driving force in her belief in the importance of human expression and storytelling.
We also talked about her husband Brad Fiedel (composer of ‘The Terminator’ and ‘T2’ scores). Brad was in Mexico working on the surfer’s refuge Brad and Ann had created. This achievement was clearly a source of huge pride for them both and quite right too.
Throughout our time together, what struck me was how truly present Ann was; effortlessly finding reflective questions, always wanting to know more about me and The Daily Jaws. Like all great actors, Ann is a master of listening. Even though we’d only spoken once before about an hour, it felt like I’d known Ann a lifetime. I understood why Ann’s JAWS 2 cast mates speak so affectionately of her.
Talking of cast mates, I couldn’t resist showing Ann one of my all time favourite JAWS memes - see below…. needless to say, Ann thought this was hilarous and asked me to share it with her. (Sorry Jeffrey!).
When it was time to leave, I offered to walk Ann home. We strolled through a small park, the conversation still flowing as well as the waters off Cable Junction. She popped into the dry cleaners to pick up some items she was meant to collect a week ago lol.
As we approcahed her flat, I realised she lives on same road as the cafe I met Jeffrey Kramer (Deputy Hendricks in JAWS / JAWS 2)… I have put in an official request to the local council to have the street renamed ‘JAWS 2 Avenue’.
“I just went through all the comments about me on The Daily Jaws site. Wow! That was a real ego boost. I wish I could reply to everyone. It was incredible!”
When we got to her place, I popped in to use the loo before the trek home. As I came out of the bathroom, a slighlty sheepish Ann asked if she could ask a favor of me… would I help her place a rug under a large(ish) piece of furniture in the hallway. Abso-f’in-lutely! It would be an honor. A small deed to help a JAWS legend and true sweetheart of a human being.
Once the furniture and rug were in the right place, it was time to leave. We hugged and said our goodbyes. Ann waited at the doorstep until I was out of view before retiring to the solace of her apartment. Which was lucky for me as I’d begun to walk in completly the wrong directon so swiftly walked back past Ann’s place to the station with a sense of joy and excitement.
But by the end of our brief encounter, Ann Dusenberry had become something so much more than a JAWS legend, Miss Amity Island 1978 or the wife of the man who wrote one of the coolest movie themes ever… she was something truly special…. she was simply my new friend Ann.
Watch our exclusive JAWS 2 45th anniversary interview with Ann below
Words and photos by Ross Wiliams
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