Why Jennifer Connelly Defied Her Parents for a Wild Movie Role

Jennifer Connelly’s journey into film was anything but typical. Acting wasn’t on her radar growing up, yet she found herself cast as a teenager in Sergio Leone’s epic Once Upon a Time in America. Landing a part in a film of that caliber, especially with almost no experience, is a rare feat. Sharing the screen with Robert De Niro right out of the gate set the stage for a career full of unexpected turns.

From Leone to Argento: A Leap Into the Unusual

After her debut, Connelly’s next big move took her into even stranger territory. She accepted the lead in Dario Argento’s supernatural thriller Phenomena. The film tells the story of a boarding school student with psychic abilities who can communicate with insects—a premise as odd as it sounds. Argento, known for his visually striking and often bloody films, crafted a movie that was both beautiful and bizarre. The soundtrack, created by his frequent collaborators Goblin, added to the film’s unique atmosphere.

At the time, critics were split. Some thought the movie dragged, while others appreciated the slow-building suspense and the murder mystery at its core. Despite the mixed reviews, the film has since become a cult favorite among fans of Argento’s work. For Connelly, the experience was unforgettable, even if her parents were less than thrilled about her taking the role.

Parental Concerns and a Wild Set Experience

Connelly’s parents hesitated when they learned about the project. The story was outlandish, and Argento’s reputation for intense, sometimes gory films didn’t help. She recalled their reaction in an interview with BlackTree TV:

“I loved working with him, you know, I think on paper it was an unusual choice. I remember my parents were like, ‘Oh yeah, you’re offered this movie, and it’s kind of crazy, and you sleepwalk, and you witness a murder, and you can communicate with insects, and your best friend is a chimpanzee,’ and I was like, ‘I’m in.’”

The chance to lead such a strange film was too good to pass up. Even a mishap on set—where a chimpanzee bit off part of her finger—didn’t dampen her enthusiasm. She was rushed to the hospital, had her finger sewn back on, and kept her spirits high.

Embracing the Madness and Moving Forward

Connelly remembers the shoot as a blast, not a nightmare. She described Argento as having a “mad vision” and said she fully embraced the experience:

“‘I’m back in Italy? I’m in.’ I was like ‘I’m ready to go,’ and I had a great time. I had so much fun. People have asked me like, ‘Was it frightening? Was it disturbing?’ And I was like, ‘No, it was that we had a whale of a time, and Dario was so sweet, and I got to be back in Italy.’”

That willingness to dive into the unknown paid off. The following year, she landed a defining role in Labyrinth alongside David Bowie, a move that likely wouldn’t have happened without her bold turn in Argento’s giallo classic.