Glenn Close and Michael Douglas' Fatal Attraction
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In the original ending, Glenn's character got her final revenge on Dan by committing suicide, but framing him for her murder. When that ending fell flat with preview audiences, filmmakers replaced it with the now-famous finale where knife-wielding Alex returns to Dan's house, tries to kill him and is ultimately gunned down in the bathtub by Douglas' onscreen wife, played by Anne Archer.
Michael: I think we should talk about the ending.
Glenn: What happened with me is when I heard they wanted to make me into basically a psychopath—where I go after somebody with a knife rather than somebody who was self-destructive and basically tragic—it was a profound problem for me. As I told you, I did a lot of research about the character. And I felt, even though there were a lot of secrets and people might not have understood all the behavior, I did. So to be brought back six months later, I think it was, and told that you're going to totally change that character, it was very hard. I think I fought against it for three weeks.
Michael: Oh, you did.
Glenn: I remember we had meetings. I was so mad.
Michael: But you were so good in the part that everybody wanted you to be killed—viscerally wanted somebody to put their hands around your throat. And it was really a result of you being so good.
Michael: I was thinking. You're so good in this movie, Glenn, and your entire career. You hadfive Oscar nominations in the '80s. What an incredible run.
Glenn: You've won two Oscars—one for being a producer and one for being an actor. Which one were you most emotional about?
Michael: The acting. To receive that nomination from my fellow actors when you're second generation really meant a lot for me and helped me gain a lot more confidence.
Michael: I think we should talk about the ending.
Glenn: What happened with me is when I heard they wanted to make me into basically a psychopath—where I go after somebody with a knife rather than somebody who was self-destructive and basically tragic—it was a profound problem for me. As I told you, I did a lot of research about the character. And I felt, even though there were a lot of secrets and people might not have understood all the behavior, I did. So to be brought back six months later, I think it was, and told that you're going to totally change that character, it was very hard. I think I fought against it for three weeks.
Michael: Oh, you did.
Glenn: I remember we had meetings. I was so mad.
Michael: But you were so good in the part that everybody wanted you to be killed—viscerally wanted somebody to put their hands around your throat. And it was really a result of you being so good.
Michael: I was thinking. You're so good in this movie, Glenn, and your entire career. You hadfive Oscar nominations in the '80s. What an incredible run.
Glenn: You've won two Oscars—one for being a producer and one for being an actor. Which one were you most emotional about?
Michael: The acting. To receive that nomination from my fellow actors when you're second generation really meant a lot for me and helped me gain a lot more confidence.
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