Xan Brooks Gets on Faye Dunaway's Bad Side

[MrMidwest]

Xan Brooks Gets on Faye Dunaway's Bad Side #1

Posted: 10/8/08 at 11:58am

In his bestselling book Easy Riders, Raging Bulls, Peter Biskind paints a grisly picture of life on the Chinatown set. Dunaway and Nicholson were both accustomed to a looser, more creative way of working, and here they were acting for a European director who regarded himself as the boss and his players as staff. Tempers flared on both sides. Biskind reports that Polanski once forcibly plucked a stray hair from Dunaway's head, because he thought it was catching the light and spoiling his shot. He also claims that Dunaway later took her revenge by throwing a cup of urine in the director's face after she was refused a bathroom break.

Is this true, that she once threw a cup of urine over Roman Polanski?

It is as if an electric current has gone through her. "I won't respond to that," she blurts. "That doesn't even deserve the dignity of a response. I don't know the details of that. It is absolutely ridiculous."

OK, so the story is untrue. "This from the Guardian?" she explodes. "I don't believe it! It is insulting that you would even bring it up!" Abruptly, the outrage seems to lift her from her seat. "I can't go on with this," she announces to the far wall. "I think you've brought up something that is so distasteful." She can barely get the words out. "You know very well," she says. "I am a lady and you were completely insulting."

It dawns on me that I am being thrown out. I am not sure this has ever happened before, and it is a peculiarly horrible feeling. By now Dunaway is at the far side of the room. She says she is going to ring down to the film-makers. She is incandescent with rage.

"Look," I say. "I'm very sorry. I didn't intend to insult you."

She rounds on me with the phone in one hand. "Yes, you did! Yes, you did! You don't speak of that unless you had an intention." We stare at each other for a second. "My God," she says, as though clobbered by a fresh revelation. "I turned down the Mail to do this!"

Outside, the sky is clouding over. I run into Flick's director and producer. We are all a little shaken, ashen-faced. We stare at the ground. "OK," I tell them. "Turns out I couldn't ask about Polanski either."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2008/oct/07/celebrity

Does she have a good side?

"The gods who nurse this universe think little of mortals' cares. They sit in crowds on exclusive clouds and laugh at our love affairs. I might have had a real romance if they'd given me a chance. I loved him, but he didn't love me. I wanted him, but he didn't want me. Then the gods had a spree and indulged in another whim. Now he loves me, but I don't love him." - Cole Porter

[Reginald Tresilian]

re: Xan Brooks Gets on Faye Dunaway's Bad Side #2

Posted: 10/8/08 at 12:01pm

I think she sprained something in her brain when she did "Mommie Dearest."

She's seemed mad as a hatter ever since.