Home / Arts and Entertainment / MacLachlan Haunted by 'Blue Velvet' Memory
MacLachlan Haunted by 'Blue Velvet' Memory
12 Oct
Summary
- Kyle MacLachlan's memoir details his struggle with David Lynch's 'Blue Velvet'.
- His mother's chemotherapy and distress almost prevented him from taking the role.
- The film's success launched MacLachlan's career and marked his arrival on the awards circuit.
In his memoir "Fictional Selves," Kyle MacLachlan recounts the profound impact of David Lynch's 1986 film "Blue Velvet." MacLachlan starred as Jeffrey Beaumont, a young man drawn into a dark world of obsession and sexuality. He details his initial apprehension toward the script, which was overtly sexual and violent.
His mother, undergoing chemotherapy for ovarian cancer at the time, was deeply disturbed by the script. This distress, communicated by his stepfather, made MacLachlan consider declining the role. However, the allure of Lynch's vision and his trust in the director's artistic integrity eventually convinced him.
The film's release, however, coincided with his mother's passing, a period he later described as marked by guilt for not being more present. "Blue Velvet" became a career-defining role for MacLachlan, propelling him to international stardom and the awards circuit, even as he harbored complex feelings about his performance years later.
