FAYE DUNAWAY
BEAUTY ICON OF THE WEEK
Date of Birth
14 January 1941, Bascom, Florida, USA Birth Name
Dorothy Faye Dunaway
NicknameMiss Faye
Faye Dunaway was born on a farm in Bascom, Florida; the daughter of an army officer and a housewife. She graduated high school in 1958, and after a stint as a beauty queen she intended to pursue education at the University of Florida, but switched to acting, earning her degree from Boston University in 1962. She was given the enviable task of choosing between a Fulbright Scholarship to the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts or a role in the Broadway production of "A Man For All Seasons" as a member of the American National Theatre and Academy. She picked the latter, enjoying a fruitful stage career for the next two years. She made her screen debut on the television series "Seaway" (1965) and played small roles in a couple forgettable movies until landing the lead role of bank robber Bonnie Parker in Bonnie and Clyde (1967), one of the biggest blockbusters of all time. It was that film that made her an overnight superstar, and from then on she was in demand everywhere, holding her own against some of the biggest macho stars of the period, including Steve McQueen, Jack Nicholson, Robert Redford, and Paul Newman.
She auditioned for the role of Daisy that went to Mia Farrow in The Great Gatsby (1974). Her 1995 autobiography was titled "Looking for Gatsby: My Life."
Attended Boston University. Gave up a Fulbright Scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London to join the original training program at the Lincoln Center Repertory Theater in New York. She got her first starring role in "A Man For All Seasons" just days after graduating from college. She was the daughter of a career army man which resulted in her traveling constantly in her early life.
Her son with ex-husband Terry O'Neill, Liam Walker Dunaway O'Neill, was born in the summer of 1980.
Her ex-husband, Peter Wolf, was with the J. Geils Band.
Converted to Catholicism while in Boston. [27 December 1996]
Has a connection with the James Bond - 007 franchise: was considered for the role of Domino Derval in Thunderball (1965), and Octopussy(1983) as the female lead (Maud Adams ended up with the part). Faye had a chance to co-star with Pierce Brosnan (the fifth 007) in the remake of The Thomas Crown Affair (1999).
Competing for beauty titles was considered de rigueur for Southern girls in the 1950s, and Dunaway remembers in her autobiography that she was somehow convinced that she could NOT leave Florida until she won one. She missed being crowned May Queen at Leon High School in Tallahassee by a mere six votes, and had another near-miss at a title when she was voted runner up for Miss University of Florida in 1959. Dunaway finally scored her beauty crown when she was named Sweetheart of Sigma Chi, and promptly transferred to Boston University.
Other actresses considered for Dunaway's breakthrough role of Bonnie Parker in Bonnie and Clyde (1967) included Natalie Wood, Sue Lyon,Carol Lynley, Leslie Caron, and even Warren Beatty's big sister Shirley MacLaine. Tuesday Weld actually turned down the role due to pregnancy.
The role of Evelyn Mulwray in Chinatown (1974) was originally marked for Ali MacGraw, wife of the film's producer, Robert Evans. By the time production started, MacGraw had left Evans for actor Steve McQueen and other actresses were considered for the part. Dunaway's main competition for the role was Jane Fonda.
By her own admission in a New York Times interview many years back, she and late comedian Lenny Bruce were briefly lovers and lived together for a week, circa 1963. She was also engaged to director Jerry Schatzberg in the late 1960s.
In order to be taken seriously as an actress, she turned down a regular role on "Guiding Light" (1952) in 1965.
Her real-life portrayal of actress Joan Crawford in the critically panned film Mommie Dearest (1981) was ranked #41 on the villains list of the 100 years of "The Greatest Screen Heroes and Legends."
Her portrayal of Bonnie Parker in Bonnie and Clyde (1967) was ranked #32 on the villains list of the 100 years of "The Greatest Screen Heroes and Villains." She shared this honor with Warren Beatty, who played Clyde Barrow.
Member of Pi Beta Phi sorority.
One of only four actresses, along with Halle Berry, Sandra Bullock and Liza Minnelli, to win both the Academy Award for Best Actress and the Razzie Award for Worst Actress (Dunaway shared her award with Bo Derek).Is only 14 years older than Diana Scarwid, who played her daughter in Mommie Dearest (1981).
Is the only actor/actress to have appeared in both the 1968 version (The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) and 1999 version (The Thomas Crown Affair (1999) of "The Thomas Crown Affair".
According to the commentary by John Waters on the Mommie Dearest (1981) DVD, Dunaway feels the film's reception ruined her career, to an extent, and she refuses to discuss the film (hence her lack of participation in its release).
Mother of Liam Dunaway O'Neill from her marriage to renowned British photographer Terry O'Neill.
Was offered the role of Lillian Hellman in Julia (1977) but she turned it down and Jane Fonda
Got the lead role in Bonnie and Clyde (1967) after Natalie Wood turned it down.
She studied drama at HB Studio in Greenwich Village in New York City.
Personal Quotes
I really hate talking about "Mommie Dearest"! It is like an obsession with people! Why do people need to focus so much on one film I made over 20 years ago? It was not a great time in my life and the film was not an experience I want to think about. Period!
Mykie's Note:
I love Miss Faye Dunaway, I love her films, and her amazing beauty. I even love the lore that surrounds her, it's as if she's a living Urban legend. Everyone has a story, but they just read like stories until you experience her for yourself. I have yet to work with her, and If any one's reading... I would love too, I don't care if she slaps me because I ask for her undivided attention while applying eye lashes, I don't care. She would be an entire chapter in my unwritten memoirs. I did meet her one afternoon in Sherman Oaks, at a little deli type place, COOGIE BAY CAFE, It was right around the corner from the photo studio i was working at. The woman who owned and ran the place was named Annamarie, she was from Finland? Holland? and she had this amazing accent and one day I was in there waiting for food, i remember they had a awesome black Forrest ham sandwich anyway, in walks this Glamazon, long wavy blond flowing hair, black trench coat, with a fitted belt and very dark movie star sunglasses. As I sit there, she walks over to the counter, and Annamarie being the loud thing that she was states, " hey you look like that movie star," as she's snapping her fingers as if to remember , and little ole me, looks up at the woman then to Annamarie and I say, " Annamarie, It's Faye Dunaway!" at this point the actress, lifts her sunglasses to her head and with both hands runs then under the sides of her hair and says, " Yes I am".
There you go, a brush with a Diva Deluxe. As a makeup artist who has worked in fashion, the looks that she presented us in her film have been burnt into mt brain, Chinatown, Thomas Crowne Affair, Eye's Of Laura Mars? Who doesn't refer tho them for inspiration? Maybe one day I will get the chance to do Faye's makeup and it will be an amazing thing or maybe I'll be right back here with a different story to tell. There's Still a lot that she's yet to tackle I can't wait!
Here is a list of films that I personally Love, some of these film weather the look, the fashion, the performance, all have moved me in ways through my work That I can pull up for time to time in my own work and personal styles. Faye Dunaway get;s a bad wrap these days and look, it's got to be tough
being so beautiful so young and trying to grown gracefully in this town. I have to admire her perseverance and drive and let's not forget talent. I mean after all, she is FAYE DUNAWAY.
Hope You enjoy!
xoxox Mykie
SELECTED FILMOGRAPHY
1967 - The Happening
Bonnie & Clyde [Oscar For Best Actress]
1968 - The Thomas Crowne Affair
1969- The Arrangement
1970- Puzzle of A Downfall Child
1973- The Three Musketeers
1974- Chinatown
1975- Three Days of The Condor
1976- Network [Oscar For Best Actress]
The Disappearance Of Aimee
1978- The Eyes of Laura Mars
1981- Mommie Dearest
1984- Supergirl
1988- Burning Secret
1990- The Handmaid's Tale
1993- Arizona Dream
1995- Drunks
1997- Twilight Of The Golds
1998- GIA
I love the podcasts available on this site.
ReplyDelete