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Michael Douglas Doubted Glenn Close's 'Fatal Attraction' Role
30 Oct
Summary
- Douglas initially doubted Glenn Close's suitability for Alex Forrest.
- Close insisted on auditioning and "blew us away."
- The original ending had Alex dying, but audiences demanded otherwise.

Michael Douglas revealed that he and the production team initially doubted Glenn Close's suitability for the iconic role of Alex Forrest in the 1987 thriller "Fatal Attraction." Douglas, who played Dan Gallagher, shared on The Graham Norton Show that Close's insistence on auditioning led to her 'blowing them away.' He acknowledged this initial misjudgment, stating they were "idiots" for doubting her.
Close herself discussed the film's original ending, which was changed after test audiences reacted negatively. The initial conclusion depicted her character slitting her own throat and Dan going to jail. However, audiences reportedly wanted her character dead, prompting a reshoot six months later. Close fought against this change, feeling her character was not a psychopath, but ultimately relented, making Alex "the most hated woman in America."