'The role required me to cry, all day long, every day': Shelley Duvall on her defining performance in The Shining

Shelley Duvall, a US actress, spoke to the BBC in 1980 after the release of The Shining. She discussed her intense role and her experience working with the meticulous director Stanley Kubrick. Duvall, who was a protégé of filmmaker Robert Altman, starred in seven of his films, including Popeye. However, her most defining role was as Wendy, the wife of Jack Nicholson's character in Kubrick's 1980 horror classic, The Shining. In September 1980, Duvall shared her thoughts with the BBC about the challenging role and working with Kubrick. She said, 'My stamina has increased so much since The Shining. The role required me to cry, all day long, every day – it was so difficult being hysterical for that length of time.

The Shining is a horror film that tells the story of a man who becomes the caretaker of a hotel and gradually loses his sanity. Shelley Duvall played Wendy, his wife, in the film. Directed by Stanley Kubrick, the movie is known for its meticulous attention to detail. Duvall mentioned that working with Kubrick was extremely demanding but also very fulfilling. She had to perform numerous takes of the same scene, which made her lose touch with reality and focus solely on her role. She described it as a miracle because the scenes improved with each take.

Duvall told the BBC that she was pleased to have been part of the film because it taught her a lot. She said it made her stronger and expanded her emotional range more than any other film she had worked on. She felt that she grew as an actress significantly. You can watch more of her interview in the video clip above. If you enjoyed this story, you can receive a handpicked selection of features, videos, and can't-miss news delivered to your inbox twice a week. For more Culture stories from the BBC, follow them on social media.