If Faye Dunaway had never agreed to star in the cult classic “Mommie Dearest,” just think of how many iconic on-screen moments we’d miss.
Like this ...
... or this
... and this.
But apparently, Dunaway, who recently sat down with People for a rare interview, considers her “Mommie Dearest” role to be one of her greatest regrets.
The actress has largely avoided talking about the Joan Crawford biopic in public interviews as, at the time of its release, the film was panned by critics and considered by some to be the silver bullet that effectively ended Dunaway’s career. Up until that point, she was the darling of the big screen, starring in major Hollywood productions like “Bonnie and Clyde” and “Network.”
“When I was discovered, everything happened like dominos,” Dunaway told People. “I don’t know how to talk about it now because it’s mind blowing. It’s so unreal yet it’s real. I’m grateful for it but I guess part of that is missing it — when one grows older.”
When Dunaway signed on to star as Crawford in the adaptation of Christina Crawford’s tell-all book about her tempestuous relationship with her mother, the actress believed that “Mommie Dearest” provided a “window into a tortured soul.” Instead, she says, it was “made into camp.”
“I think it turned my career in a direction where people would irretrievably have the wrong impression of me ― and that’s an awful hard thing to beat,” said Dunaway. “I should have known better, but sometimes you’re vulnerable and you don’t realize what you’re getting into.”
When asked what the biggest misperception about her is, Dunaway responded, “That I’m strong and perhaps like at least one of the characters I played ... Joan.”
We might never know the true origins of this “misperception.” It could’ve been “Mommie Dearest” or maybe it was that time Dunaway allegedly shaded Hilary Duff for not being a “real actress” after the Disney star was cast as Bonnie in a remake of “Bonnie & Clyde.”
Never forget Hilary’s epic clapback:
Before You Go
