The ’70s were an important period for Hollywood, which saw the rise of many auteurs, who redefined the medium, and Hollywood giants like Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, etc. Shelley Duvall was one of the prominent names that garnered traction during this period following the actor’s appearance in her frequent collaborator Robert Altman’s Nashville.
However, her biggest challenge arrived when she joined forces with auteur Stanley Kubrick, most notable for his knack for perfection, which ended up being extremely excruciating for Duvall.
Shelley Duvall’s Excruciating Experience in The Shining
When it comes to adaptations of acclaimed novels, straying away from the source material is often a recipe for disaster. However, this doesn’t apply to Stanley Kubrick, as despite not sticking to the original book by Stephen King, 1980’s The Shining became a major critical hit, which saw Duvell delivering an iconic performance. While the role initially earned her a Razzie nod at the time, the organization later rescinded her nomination in 2022.
But to say that the filming of the horror took a toll on the actress would be an understatement, as she recalled the director had her “crying 12 hours a day for weeks on end”.
I will never give that much again. If you want to get into pain and call it art, go ahead, but not with me.
Another excruciating aspect of the production was the filming of her scene with the baseball bat, which reportedly took 127 shots.
But while many stressed that she developed a grudge against Kubrick after The Shining, this isn’t exactly the case as despite calling the production almost unbearable, she debunked other claims.
Shelley Duvall’s Net Worth Doesn’t Do Justice to Her Hollywood Run
Her role in The Shining is only one piece of her acclaimed filmography, as Shelley Duvall cemented herself as one of the most versatile actresses of her time. According to revered late critic Roger Ebert, the actress looked and sounded like almost nobody else, and “has possibly played more really different kinds of characters than almost any other young actress of the 1970s.”
Other notable works of the actress include 3 Women and Popeye, both being collaborations with Altman, and 1996’s The Portrait of a Lady, which further showcases the range of her acting chops.
However, her net worth of $500K doesn’t do the late star’s run in Hollywood justice, who passed away at the age of 75 following her complications with diabetes. Despite parting ways with Hollywood for a good two decades before eventually returning for her final role in 2023’s The Forest Hills, the actress has left an indelible legacy behind, which fans will continue to celebrate.
The Shining is available to stream on Apple TV.
