"Her performance may have been misunderstood at the time, much like the narrative surrounding her life would be in later years."
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Shelley Duvall starred alongside Danny Lloyd and Jack Nicholson in 'The Shining.' Her performance was unsettling, and contemporary reviewers often regarded it as a weak point. Credit: Warner Bros., via Everett Collection"
If Stanley Kubrick’s 'The Shining' represented a modern twist on the age-old Gothic horror genre, Shelley Duvall was the ideal choice to portray a contemporary Gothic heroine. Duvall, who passed away Thursday at 75, was in her late 20s when she took on the role of Wendy Torrance, the beleaguered wife of writer Jack Torrance (played by Jack Nicholson). The couple, accompanied by their young son, settle in for the winter at the ominous Overlook Hotel, where sinister forces begin to emerge.
The Overlook, more malevolent entity than mere hotel, bears the weight of a dark and violent past. Wendy finds herself virtually imprisoned there, a petite figure navigating a sprawling, treacherous building steeped in secrets. One might consider the Overlook itself a monstrous presence, projecting its malevolence onto its inhabitants. In a surprising twist, it is Wendy, not Jack, who ultimately demonstrates resilience.
A Gothic heroine is defined by her courage in the face of imminent danger, unwavering resolve amid palpable terror, and susceptibility to the malevolent forces that lurk. This tension is essential for sustaining suspense. In the film, Duvall embodies this archetype with her fragile appearance—her wide-eyed, disheveled demeanor suggesting imminent peril. Her sole objective is to protect her son Danny from his father, whose violent past is revealed early on, adding a chilling layer to the unfolding horror. The evil she confronts is not supernatural but deeply human, a menace she has encountered before, now armed with an axe.
Kubrick's portrayal of Wendy diverges from Stephen King's original novel; she is depicted as more vulnerable and fearful. King himself criticized this adaptation, lamenting that the film's Wendy was reduced to a mere victim rather than the resilient character he envisioned. Duvall's performance drew criticism in contemporary reviews, with some citing her as a weak link and even nominating her for a Razzie for worst actress.
However, in recent years, Duvall's portrayal in 'The Shining' has garnered renewed critical acclaim. Today, her depiction of abject terror resonates deeply, challenging earlier dismissals of her performance. There is an unsettling quality to her portrayal: her wide, heavy-lidded eyes and fragile demeanor akin to a porcelain doll on the brink of shattering. Throughout the film, she conveys a palpable fear, almost afraid to breathe or speak aloud.
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"But she was more than capable of screaming. In a 1980 conversation with critic Roger Ebert, Duvall shared her complex emotions about filming, likening it to primal scream therapy. 'In my role, I had to cry 12 hours a day, every day, for the last nine months straight, five or six days a week,' she recounted. Despite this, she found solace in the process. 'I went home very contented,' she reflected. 'It had a very calming effect. Throughout the day, I would have been absolutely miserable.'
Even at her relatively young age, Duvall had established herself through roles in Robert Altman's films such as 'McCabe and Mrs. Miller,' 'Nashville,' and '3 Women,' where she thrived in the director’s improvisational and free-flowing style. In contrast, Kubrick's meticulous and relentless approach meant shooting countless takes, pushing his actors to their limits. Duvall later confided in David Hughes, author of 'The Complete Kubrick,' revealing how the prolonged stress of production had taken a toll on her health. (Adding to her challenges, her boyfriend, Paul Simon, had ended their relationship just before filming began.
"In 2002, Duvall retired from the entertainment industry and largely retreated from public view. She made a rare appearance in a 2016 television interview on an episode of 'Dr. Phil' titled 'A Hollywood Star’s Descent Into Mental Illness: Saving The Shining’s Shelley Duvall.' During the interview, she appeared visibly distressed, sparking significant criticism and controversy surrounding the show.
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It also raised questions about the lasting impact of trauma from her time on the set of “The Shining.” (Her Razzie nomination was rescinded in 2022, with the organization acknowledging in a statement that “we have since learned that Duvall’s performance was influenced by Stanley Kubrick’s treatment of her during the production.”) Thematically, this was fitting: once more, Duvall found herself as the vulnerable woman residing in apparent seclusion—a small town in the Texas Hill Country where she relocated during the 1990s. Where had she vanished to? Why? Who knew what monsters still haunted her?
In April 2024, however, less than two months before her death, Duvall granted an interview to The New York Times. Among the many topics discussed was “The Shining,” of which she retained fond yet complex memories. For her, the true lurking evil wasn’t Kubrick, but the broader Hollywood establishment, which she believed had dismissed and forgotten her.
“How would you feel if people were really nice, and then, suddenly, on a dime, they turn on you?” she questioned. “You would never believe it unless it happens to you. That’s why you get hurt, because you can’t really believe it’s true.”
It’s a familiar tale for Hollywood heroines, who frequently face being ousted from the industry by one monster or another. Despite missing her Hollywood life, Duvall confronted her future much like a Gothic heroine would. Interviewers during the post-“Dr. Phil” era noted her seeming scatter but also resilience, overcoming mobility issues while navigating her small town in a white Toyota 4Runner. Once again, there was that tension between vulnerability and courage—the determination to persevere without forgetting the past. And if she didn’t quite fit neatly into others' predetermined narratives, it only underscored that Shelley Duvall was undeniably a strong heroine.
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