Faye Dunaway: A True Hollywood Legend
Faye Dunaway is one of the few true legends left in Hollywood. Known for playing tough, spiteful, and difficult women, she has delivered some of the greatest performances in cinema history. At 83, she continues to make her mark.
Iconic Roles
Famously remembered for her twisted cry, “no more wire hangers!” in the cult classic Mommie Dearest, Dunaway also starred in Hurry Sundown with Michael Caine and Bonnie and Clyde, where she beat out Jane Fonda and Natalie Wood for the lead role. Born in Bascom, Florida, she holds three Golden Globes and an Emmy.
Memorable Performances
It’s hard to talk about Dunaway’s career without mentioning Mommie Dearest. Channeling Joan Crawford, she stunned the crew when she emerged from the dressing room looking just like the iconic actress. Mommie Dearest (1981) is a sensationalized adaptation of Christina Crawford’s memoir, revealing her dysfunctional relationship with her adopted mother, Joan Crawford. Dunaway’s portrayal was both terrifying and charming, blurring the lines between reality and performance.
Method Acting or Possession?
Dunaway’s dedication to her craft was so intense that she told a Hollywood biographer, “I want to climb inside her skin.” Some believed she was possessed by Crawford’s spirit. The Los Angeles Times even reported that she seemed to have borrowed Crawford’s voice for 12 weeks.
Regrets and Career Impact
Despite her memorable role, Dunaway regrets it. She told Entertainment Tonight, “I think it turned my career in a direction where people would irretrievably have the wrong impression of me.” She realized too late how the role would affect her career.
Professional Restraint
Dunaway worked with Hollywood’s hottest men, including Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Kirk Douglas, and Johnny Depp, maintaining platonic relationships. She had a rule: “You know it’s going to ruin the performance and ruin the movie, so you don’t do that.”
A Tempting Exception
However, she broke the rule for Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni. They had a three-year affair while filming A Place for Lovers (1968). Despite her deep love for him, Dunaway left when he refused to leave his wife.
Personal Life
In 1974, Dunaway married musician Peter Wolf, the lead singer of The J. Geils Band, divorcing five years later. She then married British photographer Terry O’Neill in 1983, and they had a son, Liam. They divorced in 1987.
Controversial Reputation
Dunaway has been accused of being a difficult and erratic diva. In 2019, she was fired from her role in Tea at Five, and in 1994, Andrew Lloyd Weber dropped her from Sunset Boulevard. Jack Nicholson nicknamed her the “gossamer grenade,” and Bette Davis called her “uncooperative.”
Talent and Recognition
Despite her reputation, Dunaway’s talent is undeniable. In 1997, she was named one of People’s 50 Most Beautiful People, and in 1996, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Today, she remains single but open to dating, admitting to People in 2016, “I always think I would like to have a partner in life.”
Recent Work
Dunaway’s latest credit is from 2022, starring alongside Kevin Spacey in the Italian movie L’uomo che disegnò Dio. Hollywood wouldn’t be the same without her. What do you think of her channeling Joan Crawford in Mommie Dearest, and how do you feel about her reported outbursts?
