Glenn Close Says One Movie Made Audiences Realize She ‘Could Be Sexy’

Glenn Close has pinpointed the movie that she believes made audiences finally realize she could be more than Cruella de Vil — her 1978 film Fatal Attraction.

“I think it was the first time people realized I could be sexy,” Close, 77, said during an interview with Today’s Willie Geist on the Sunday, January 19 episode of Sunday Sitdown.

The movie stars Close as Alex Forrest, a woman who starts an affair with Dan Gallagher (Michael Douglas). She becomes steadily more and more mentally unstable as it becomes clear he’s trying to end the relationship, ultimately to her demise.

The film began as the short Diversion before it was developed into a feature-length production by writer-director James Dearden. It spent eight weeks at No. 1 in the box office and was the second-highest-grossing film in 1987, falling short of Three Men and a Baby. Fatal Attraction earned more than $157 million domestically and earned six Academy Award nominations, including for Close.

In addition to reminiscing on her storied Hollywood career, Close has recently opened up about her personal life. While appearing on  The Drew Barrymore Show on Monday, January 13, the actress was asked if she’s dated since her 2015 divorce from David Shaw. (The pair were married for nine years.) Close revealed that not only has she been single the entire time, she is “very happy right now.”

After host Drew Barrymore asked if Close has tried any dating apps, she replied, “Are you crazy?” before she added, “No, I’m too shy to do that.”

Close also said she’s not especially interested in finding a relationship. “I’m not searching,” she added. “Because I’m actually, I’m not a hugely, comfortably, social person, so I don’t leap to go to a party.”

Prior to her marriage to Shaw, Close was married to James Marlas from 1984 to 1987 and Cabot Wade from 1969 to 1971. She also shares daughter, Annie Starke Albu, with ex-boyfriend John Starke.

The actress went on to star in several critically acclaimed films following Fatal Attraction, including Dangerous Liaisons, The Wife, Hillbilly Elegy, Air Force One and 101 Dalmations. She also earned an Emmy Award for the 1995 TV movie Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story.

Close has yet to win an Academy Award for acting, despite having been nominated eight times throughout her career. In 2021, she told Variety that she’s not too upset about having lost out. “It’s beyond me. I don’t know what to say about that,” she explained. I just have to keep doing what’s good. You’re fulfilled by your work, and that’s the process to me. It’s what feeds my soul, but it really is nice when other people like it. It might be cool to never get one.”