How Glenn Close Lost Her First Major Film Role
Glenn Close nearly missed out on her first leading role in The Bostonians due to scheduling issues, ultimately choosing The Natural instead—a decision she stands by to this day.
Chances are, you’ve come across the term ‘bunny boiler’ at some point, though its origins might not be immediately obvious. It’s not a culinary trend, but rather a nod to the 1987 film Fatal Attraction, where Glenn Close’s character takes a rather extreme approach to expressing her anger. The film, a true product of its era, is packed with all the trappings of the 1980s—oversized mobile phones, sprawling suburban homes, and, of course, Michael Douglas. Yet, it’s Close who truly commands attention, delivering a performance that is at once charming, unsettling, and quietly furious, embodying the phrase ‘hell hath no fury’ with remarkable intensity.
Her portrayal in Fatal Attraction earned her a well-deserved Oscar nomination, one of eight she has received over a career spanning four decades—though, curiously, she has never taken home the award. Close’s very first nomination came with her debut in The World According to Garp, a 1982 adaptation of John Irving’s novel, where she starred alongside Robin Williams. She followed this with another nod for The Big Chill, a comedy-drama directed by Lawrence Kasdan, and then a third consecutive nomination for her role in The Natural, sharing the screen with Robert Redford, Robert Duvall, and Kim Basinger.
Missed Opportunities and Career Choices
Close’s involvement in The Natural was nearly derailed by her commitment to The Bostonians, a period piece featuring Christopher Reeve. She recounted to Vanity Fair how Robert Redford tried to persuade her that both projects could be managed:
“I had already been cast in The Bostonians when Bob [Redford] asked me to come and see him. It was during the negotiations of trying to make it work for me to do both that [The Bostonians producer] Ismail Merchant said, ‘She’s fired’. So, I did The Natural and loved it.”
Ironically, The Bostonians also garnered two Academy Award nominations, including one for Vanessa Redgrave. Despite this, Close has never regretted her decision to work with Redford, especially as that same year she secured a Tony award for her role in Tom Stoppard’s The Real Thing on Broadway.
Building a Remarkable Legacy
Over the years, Close has established herself as one of the most respected actors in the industry, matching Peter O’Toole’s record with eight Oscar nominations, and collecting three Emmys, three Tonys, and three Golden Globes along the way. Most recently, she has appeared alongside Kim Kardashian in Ryan Murphy’s much-discussed series All’s Fair, and she remains in demand, with upcoming roles in the latest Hunger Games instalment, Sunrise on the Reaping, and a rumoured remake of Sunset Boulevard.