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Dee Wallace on E.T.'s Surprise Blockbuster Success
3 Aug
Summary
- Wallace found E.T.'s massive success surprising.
- The cast expected a typical film shoot, not a hit.
- She appreciated not being typecast after E.T.'s success.
Actress Dee Wallace recently reflected on the unexpected, monumental success of the 1982 film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Despite recognizing a magical element during filming, Wallace shared that the cast and crew operated on set as they would for any typical movie, without forecasting its future status as a global phenomenon.
Wallace recalled the immense surprise when E.T. became a blockbuster, especially as Steven Spielberg's other film that summer, Poltergeist, was initially expected to be the major hit. She feels the public's readiness for E.T.'s message was a key factor in its widespread appeal, comparing its lasting impact to that of The Wizard of Oz.
Following E.T.'s iconic role as Mary Taylor, Wallace admitted she experienced a period of being typecast as a mother figure. However, she expressed her profound appreciation for her career's flexibility, which allowed her to transition between comedic sitcoms and dramatic roles, even taking on a killer role in The Frighteners to break from her established on-screen persona.
