Glenn Close, 68, is set to return to the West End in a new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical version of Sunset Boulevard, a role she first played on Broadway over 20 years ago. Unlike Gloria Swanson, who played Norma Desmond in the original film and saw parallels with her own career decline, Close has only grown more acclaimed with age. She came late to acting, landing her first significant screen role at 35 in The World According to Garp (1982), but quickly established herself as a formidable talent.
Close earned three consecutive Best Supporting Actress Oscar nominations for Garp, The Big Chill, and The Natural. By the end of the 1980s, she had become a cultural fixture with roles in two major hits: Fatal Attraction and Dangerous Liaisons, both earning her further Oscar nominations, though she has never won. Playwright Christopher Hampton, who has known Close for nearly 30 years, praises her ability to convey strength and intelligence on screen.
Close is often cast as strong, formidable women. In Dangerous Liaisons, her performance as the Marquise de Merteuil steals the film despite her character's downfall. Fatal Attraction proved more controversial; Close researched psychiatry to make her character's behaviour plausible and fought against the reshot ending that turned her into a psychopath, though she acknowledged it gave audiences what they wanted.
Close's reputation for professionalism is well known. Hampton notes she is always prepared and works hard, never arriving on set without knowing exactly what she will do. Her ability to command roles has kept her reputation growing, and she remains a key figure in discussions about opportunities for older female actors.
