Glenn Close has a theory about which of her films changed the way the world saw her.
The actress, who made her big screen debut at age 35, alongside Robin Williams in The world according to Garpbecame one of Hollywood’s brightest stars during her decades-long career. Close not only has a wide range of roles under her belt, but is also one of the Academy’s most nominated performers of all time, with eight Academy Award nominations.
And if you ask him, 1987 Fatal attraction played a central role in this success because it truly showcased its range.
“I think that was the first time people realized I could be sexy,” Close told Willie Geist on the Jan. 19 episode of Today‘s Sunday session. The psychological thriller directed by Adrian Lyne saw its star alongside Michael Douglas as a woman who begins an affair with a married man – only to become unhinged when he tries to end it.
THE Dangerous connections And Extreme cold The actress added that to this day she feels like “an outsider” in Hollywood, but that she enjoys “roles that demand everything because they are rare.”
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Close says Weekly Entertainment in 2017, although she was unable to obtain the Fatal attraction script sprung from her head, she almost lost the role because producers were concerned about her ability to lead an erotic thriller.
“Producer Sherry Lansing told me about five years ago that they were so convinced I was wrong for Alex that they didn’t even want to be in the room when I auditioned,” Close explained in an oral history of the film celebrating its 30th anniversary. . “They said, ‘Well, can she be sexy?’ And I thought, ‘Well, you know, yes!'”
Close would prove that her sex appeal could resonate when Fatal attraction was a resounding success. It became the second highest-grossing film of 1987, behind Three men and a baby, And earned six nominations at the 60th Academy Awards, including Close’s first nomination for Best Actress (and fourth nomination overall). Considered a cultural phenomenon, the film also played a role in launching the erotic thriller boom during this era..
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Douglas also praised Close’s performance in the film. “Sex in movies is always a fine line. Glenn was eager to go there,” Douglas told EW, reflecting on one of the Fatal attractionkey sex scenes from . “We went up to the kitchen table and she had this great idea with the sink, with the water running and getting wet, which is always good.”
Douglas, looking to add more comic relief, then improvised a tripping moment by carrying Close close to the bed. “It kind of let the audience relax for a second,” he said.
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Close also praised the scene, saying, “I like it because it’s not very romantic. It’s very real and kind of desperate and funny.”
Despite their obvious chemistry, Close recently revealed the actor she shared her best on-screen kiss with — and Douglas wasn’t the winner.
“Robert Redford… in The Natural”, she recently said Watch what’s happening live host Andy Cohen. “I only got to kiss him once…Maybe we did two takes.”
Yet while Redford holds the title when it comes to kissing, it was Douglas who helped her create the hottest kissing scene ever in a sink.
Watch Close reflects on his career in Sunday session interview above.
