Glenn Close’s long history of Oscar nominations without a win has caught the attention of Michael Douglas. During an appearance on “The Graham Norton Show,” the actor said Close deserved the 1988 Best Actress Oscar over Cher.
Michael Douglas says Glenn Close deserved Cher’s 1988 Oscar win
Douglas, 82, and Close, 79, appeared on the Friday, October 30, episode of the British talk show. According to People, Close joked about receiving an honorary Academy Award in November after earning eight Oscar nominations without a win.
The actress suggested that Academy members “probably don’t want to feel guilty anymore” about her losing streak.
Douglas then made his feelings about one particular result clear.
“She should have won with Fatal Attraction,” he said. “She was nominated, I believe, [for] her fourth [time for] Fatal Attraction. Cher won that year.”
Host Graham Norton asked whether Douglas was referring to Cher’s win for “Moonstruck.” “I know. That’s what we all said,” he responded.
The remark prompted laughter from fellow guests Kieran Culkin and Naomi Ackie.
“The shade! The shade, mate!” Ackie exclaimed.
Douglas insisted that Close delivered one of “the greatest performances of all time” in the 1987 thriller. Norton responded with a joke, saying, “But Cher put some grey in her hair — so there you go.”
Douglas also recalled how the filmmakers initially doubted Close was right for the role. However, she insisted on auditioning despite already having three Oscar nominations.
“Everybody thought that Glenn was not right for the part, and so we moved on, and her agent called and said, ‘You don’t understand, Glenn will audition,’” he said.
“She came in, and I ask anyone to see this tape, and she blew us away. We have never been so wrong in our lives,” he added. “We remember looking at each other feeling like total idiots. She was in total command.”
In “Fatal Attraction,” Douglas played married attorney Dan Gallagher, who has an affair with colleague Alex Forrest, portrayed by Close.
The film received six Academy Award nominations, including Best Actress for Close. However, she lost to Cher, who portrayed Loretta Castorini opposite Nicolas Cage in the romantic comedy “Moonstruck.”
