Glenn Close’s First Leading Role: The Unexpected Firing That Changed Her Career
Glenn Close almost lost her first major film role in The Bostonians due to scheduling issues, ultimately choosing to star in The Natural instead—a choice she never looked back on.
Chances are, you’ve heard the term “bunny boiler” tossed around, but its origin might surprise you. It doesn’t refer to a new culinary trend, but actually comes from the 1987 thriller Fatal Attraction, where Glenn Close delivers a chilling performance as a woman scorned. The film, packed with all the hallmarks of the late ‘80s—oversized cell phones, big hair, and even bigger shoulder pads—features Michael Douglas as the object of Close’s obsession. Yet, it’s Close who truly commands the screen, blending charm, menace, and vulnerability in a role that’s become iconic.
Her portrayal in Fatal Attraction earned her an Oscar nomination, one of eight she’s received over her four-decade career, though she’s never taken home the statue. Close’s journey to stardom began with her film debut in The World According to Garp in 1982, where she starred alongside Robin Williams and earned her first Academy nod. She followed that up with another nomination for The Big Chill, and then a third for The Natural in 1984, sharing the screen with Robert Redford, Robert Duvall, and Kim Basinger.
Turning Point: A Career-Defining Choice
But Close’s path to The Natural was anything but straightforward. She was originally set to take on her first leading role in the period drama The Bostonians, opposite Christopher Reeve. During a conversation with Vanity Fair, she recalled how Robert Redford tried to persuade her she could manage both projects.
“I had already been cast in The Bostonians when Bob [Redford] asked me to come and see him. It was during the negotiations of trying to make it work for me to do both that [The Bostonians producer] Ismail Merchant said, ‘She’s fired’. So, I did The Natural and loved it.”
Ironically, The Bostonians also went on to receive two Oscar nominations, including one for Vanessa Redgrave. Still, Close never regretted her decision to work with Redford. That same year, she also won a Tony Award for her role in Tom Stoppard’s Broadway play The Real Thing.
Building a Legendary Legacy
Over the years, Close has proven herself as one of Hollywood ’s most versatile and respected actors. She’s matched Peter O’Toole’s record with eight Oscar nominations, and has also collected three Emmys, three Tonys, and three Golden Globes. Recently, she’s appeared alongside Kim Kardashian in Ryan Murphy’s headline-grabbing series All’s Fair, and she’s set to appear in several upcoming projects, including a new Hunger Games film and a rumored remake of Sunset Boulevard.