Shelley Duvall, Star of 'The Shining,' Breaks Silence on Being "Hurt" by Hollywood

Shelley Duvall, the acclaimed actress known for her role in the 1980 horror classic 'The Shining,' has given a rare interview at age 74, opening up about the emotional toll of her Hollywood career. Duvall, who played Wendy Torrance opposite Jack Nicholson in Stanley Kubrick's film, revealed that she exited the entertainment industry in 2002 because she felt "hurt" by people in Hollywood.

In the interview, Duvall became emotional while watching a scene from 'The Shining' where her character swings a baseball bat at Nicholson's Jack Torrance. "It was a difficult scene, but it turned out to be one of the best in the film," she said, recalling that they shot the scene 127 times. Duvall also addressed whether Kubrick was "unusually cruel or abusive" to her during filming, acknowledging that he had a "streak" of cruelty but could also be "very warm and friendly."

Duvall's partner, Dan Gilroy, shed light on the actress's current struggles, revealing that she sometimes calls the FBI and sleeps in her car due to paranoia and delusions. Despite these challenges, Duvall remains imaginative and engaged, often recounting stories from her acting career and retrieving old photographs from her Toyota 4Runner.

Why this matters: Shelley Duvall's candid interview sheds light on the often-overlooked mental health struggles faced by celebrities in the entertainment industry. Her story serves as a reminder of the importance of supporting and protecting the well-being of actors, even years after they have left the spotlight.

The interview also touched on Duvall's controversial 2016 appearance on the TV show 'Dr. Phil,' which was criticized for appearing to exploit someone with a mental health condition. Duvall has largely remained out of the public eye since leaving Los Angeles for Texas over two decades ago. Her return to acting in the upcoming film 'The Forest Hills,' her first role in 22 years, prompted her to agree to this rare interview.

Key Takeaways

• Shelley Duvall, 74, gave a rare interview about her Hollywood career's emotional toll.
• Duvall left the entertainment industry in 2002, feeling "hurt" by people in Hollywood.
• Duvall's partner revealed she sometimes calls the FBI and sleeps in her car due to paranoia.
• Duvall's 2016 "Dr. Phil" appearance was criticized for exploiting her mental health condition.
• Duvall is returning to acting in the upcoming film "The Forest Hills" after 22 years.