Faye Dunaway: frank words from a cult goddess

Ever since her gunslinger galvanized 1967's Bonnie and Clyde, Faye Dunaway has been one of the movies' greats. Chatting with friend and fellow actor Melanie Griffith, the legend shares her thoughts on filmmaking, the cutting edge and having fun in L.A.

MELANIE GRIFFITH: Hello, Faye.

FAYE DUNAWAY: "Duh-vo-tion!" I'll never forget the way you said that word when we were in Cannes. [Griffith laughs] That was regarding the tattoo on your upper arm, of course. I said, "Oh, that's so cool. You've got Antonio's name there," and you said, "Duh-vo-tion!" [Griffith laughs] Anyway, I'm doing all the talking.

MG: Oh, you should. You should talk and talk. But I do have things I want to ask you.

FD: I will go to any lengths to talk to you, Melanie. You know, when I think of you, I think of smart sensuality. You've got a softness about you, and a wonderful sensuality, but the mind always comes through. I feel I failed at that a little bit.

MG: You do?

FD: Well, softness and femininity like yours people don't expect of me; so when they find me emotional and capable of real vulnerability, they're surprised. [laughs]

MG: But I have in front of me the incredible list of movies that you've done, and, really, most weren't conducive to showing that side of yourself. I mean, you couldn't be that in Chinatown [1974]. But you were kind of like that in Bonnie and Clyde.

FD: Yeah. I often say the last role I played that really touched me and where I was able to access what I really am was Bonnie, which is kind of sad when you think how early in my career that was. Do you know what I'm working on now? My first feature as a director. You have to promise me that you'll take a part in one of my movies.

MG: Oh, I'd love to! I would be honored!

FD: I should be so lucky! I'm really passionate about it. One of the things I'd like to pull out is what it's like to be in the position we're in, and not be mean about it--because God knows, we're lucky. So many people are called but few serve as actors, you know what I mean? There are brilliantly talented people who haven't had that Working Girl [1988], who haven't had that Bonnie and Clyde, and who's to say why?

MG: Yeah, definitely. So you're living in L.A. now. Right?

FD: I'm in New York at the moment. I've been working on this feature script for Master Class, a play by Terrence McNally that won a lot of Tonys. It really attempts to look at women like us and say, "What's it like past the facade of what you all see?" I've finally got a script that's good, Melanie. God bless McNally, it's got some fantastic stuff in it, but it's no easy task to make a movie out of. Warren Beatty's been helpful. He's been a friend for a long time, and I always admired what he did with Bonnie and with many other films after that. You just don't waltz in and put a movie together. You've really got to stay humble because it's like an act of God to do it.

MG: For sure. Now what about your role in The Rules of Attraction?

FD: That was charming! It was directed by Roger Avary, who worked with Quentin Tarantino on Pulp Fiction [1994]. It's interesting as one grows older to keep in touch with the cutting edge. I mean, I was always interested in people like Lenny Bruce, people who are breaking the old rules and making new ones. Roger's one of those. So what are you doing? Have you finished the film with Sly [Stallone, Shade]?

MG: Yes. And I went to India, where I had the most humbling, incredible experience. There are 13 million people in Calcutta, and so many are living on the street. So I've been involved with this charity called Sabera, and we're trying to help the little girls that get left on the streets.

FD: That's great. My God, you're amazing.

MG: Any time you want to go over with me, or if you want to make a film about the orphanage ... that would be so cool. So let me ask you, what do you do in your downtime?

FD: I'm a Capricorn. I'm really boring. I just go to movies, or see my son, Liam. He's 23 and he's got to find his own way, but I try to be there and give him guidance. It's not easy being our children, Melanie. I've watched him struggle with that. So Liam and movies are obviously big passions, and I read and write. But I don't do much else. I'm kind of a recluse. I'm going to have to go, Melanie. I'm sitting in a dental surgery office and the man is waiting for me.

MG: Oh, OK. But I'd like to ask you one more question: 11 you wanted people to know something in two sentences about you, what would it be?

FD: Oh, boy. I guess it's that I'm really vulnerable. I had hoped the [Joan] Crawford film [Mommie Dearest, 1981] would be a window into a tortured soul, but it was made into camp, and I think, for better or for worse, people do think that you're like your roles. So I'd like people to know that I have a really strong vulnerability and a great passion arid, I would hope, a generosity in life.

Melanie Griffith will next be seen in Shade.

Actress Melanie Griffith had to compete with an oral surgeon for Faye Dunaway's attention, but it was well worth the struggle. "I'm one of her biggest fans," Griffith says of her friend and interview subject. Griffith will next appear opposite Sylvester Stallone in Shade, due out next year.

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