See 1970s Hollywood Icon Faye Dunaway Today at 85

Faye Dunaway is one of Hollywood’s last true legends. Known for playing fierce, complex women, the 85-year-old actress has delivered some of cinema’s most iconic performances. From Bonnie and Clyde to Hurry Sundown, Dunaway consistently brought intensity, charisma, and depth to her roles, often outshining her contemporaries like Jane Fonda and Natalie Wood.

Of course, no discussion of Dunaway is complete without Mommie Dearest. Her portrayal of Joan Crawford, channeling the legendary actress’s energy and mannerisms, stunned the cast and crew. “I want to climb inside her skin,” Dunaway famously said, blurring the line between performance and obsession. Critics and fans alike were mesmerized, with some claiming Dunaway seemed possessed by Crawford’s spirit.

^{_{Actress Faye Dunaway as Joan Crawford on the set of Paramount Pictures movie ” Mommie Dearest” in 1981. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)}}

Despite the acclaim, the role carried a cost. Dunaway admitted it shaped public perception in ways she didn’t anticipate: “I think it turned my career in a direction where people would irretrievably have the wrong impression of me,” she told Entertainment Tonight.

_{^{Faye Dunaway in ‘Bonnie and Clyde’, 1967 / Getty Images}}

Off-screen, Dunaway’s life has been as dramatic as her roles. She navigated high-profile romances, including a whirlwind affair with Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni, and marriages to musician Peter Wolf and photographer Terry O’Neill, with whom she shares a son. She’s been described as difficult and demanding, earning nicknames like Jack Nicholson’s “gossamer grenade” and the scathing acknowledgment from Bette Davis that Dunaway was “for Miss Dunaway.”

_^Pxfuel

Yet her talent and beauty remain undeniable. She has three Golden Globes, an Emmy, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and was listed among People’s 50 Most Beautiful People. Today, Dunaway remains single, candid about her desire for companionship while embracing her independence. Her latest work includes the 2022 Italian film L’uomo che disegnò Dio alongside Kevin Spacey.