Glenn Close, renowned for her unforgettable portrayal of Alex Forrest in Fatal Attraction, has a history far more intense and dramatic than many of her on-screen roles. Few are aware that she spent her formative years in a strict, controlling group known as the Moral Re-Armament (MRA). This experience profoundly influenced her life and career, shaping the remarkable actress and advocate we know today.
Early Life in the Cult
Glenn Close’s childhood was deeply intertwined with the MRA, an organization founded in the early 20th century that advocated for a strict lifestyle based on absolute honesty, purity, unselfishness, and love. Her family, led by her father’s commitment, moved to the MRA’s headquarters in Switzerland, fully immersing themselves in the group’s doctrines.
Life within the MRA was marked by communal living, group confessions, and work camps. Members were expected to follow the organization’s strict moral codes and give up personal possessions. The group also influenced major life decisions, including career choices and relationships. For Close, this environment meant suppressing her own desires and conforming to the group’s ideology, which had a lasting impact on her development and self-perception.
Impact on Personal Development
Growing up in the MRA, Glenn Close learned to prioritize the group’s beliefs over her own thoughts and feelings. This suppression of individuality was a form of psychological control that left her with a skewed sense of self-worth and autonomy. The teachings of the MRA, which emphasized self-denial and subjugation of personal needs to the group’s cause, were starkly different from the world of acting, where self-expression and exploration of character are essential.
Leaving the MRA and entering the acting world required Close to undergo a challenging process of rediscovering her voice and identity. This journey of self-discovery became a crucial element of her craft, deeply informing her approach to the roles she would later take on.
Channeling Experience into Art
Close’s early experiences with the MRA provided her with a unique reservoir of emotions to draw upon in her acting career. She became adept at portraying characters who were complex and often trapped by societal norms, circumstances, or their own minds. Her ability to convey subtle emotional conflicts and internal struggles is, in part, a result of her empathy with feelings of confinement and the desire for freedom.
The Art of Transformation
One of the most powerful examples of Glenn Close’s transformative acting is her role as Joan Castleman in The Wife. Close brought an authentic depth to the character’s internal world, resonating with many women who felt constrained by societal and familial expectations. The film served as a poignant exploration of gender roles and the often invisible labor of women, showcasing Close’s ability to channel her own experiences into her art.
A Career Built on Depth and Diversity
Throughout her illustrious career, Glenn Close has portrayed a wide array of characters, each reflecting a different aspect of the human experience. Her performance as the Marquise de Merteuil in Dangerous Liaisons highlighted her skill in depicting manipulation and power dynamics. Meanwhile, her Emmy-winning role as Patty Hewes in Damages showcased her ability to embody a character of formidable intellect and ruthlessness.
Each role Close has taken on is a testament to her depth and versatility as an actress, as well as her personal journey from a controlled environment to a place where she can fully explore and express the range of human emotions.
A Life Beyond the Stage
Escaping the confines of the MRA marked the beginning of a profound transformation for Glenn Close. She sought to rediscover her own voice and found sanctuary in the arts. Attending the College of William and Mary, Close immersed herself in theater and anthropology, disciplines that allowed her to explore the human condition from multiple perspectives. This period was a renaissance for Close, providing her with an intellectual and artistic foundation that would support her future career in storytelling.
Advocacy and Personal Struggles
Close’s life is also marked by her advocacy, particularly in the realm of mental health. Witnessing her sister’s and nephew’s struggles with mental illness, Close became a passionate advocate for mental health awareness. She co-founded Bring Change to Mind, a nonprofit organization aimed at reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness and empowering those affected by it. Her commitment to this cause reflects her desire to change the narrative around mental health and provide support to those in need.
A Spectrum of Roles
Close’s career is a kaleidoscope of diverse characters, each showcasing her incredible range. On Broadway, she captured the tragic grandeur of Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard, a role that earned her critical acclaim and a Tony Award. On television, she brought to life the complex character of Patty Hewes, earning an Emmy and solidifying her presence on the small screen.
The Craft of Acting
For Glenn Close, acting is an art form that demands both precision and passion. Her role in Albert Nobbs exemplifies her dedication to her craft. Close not only starred in the film but also spent over a decade nurturing the project from concept to screen, co-writing the screenplay, and ensuring every detail was authentic. This level of commitment is a hallmark of her career, reflecting her belief that to truly connect with an audience, an actor must fully inhabit the character’s world.
A Legacy of Influence
Glenn Close’s influence extends far beyond the characters she has portrayed. Her work in theater, particularly her Tony Award-winning performance in The Real Thing, demonstrates her versatility and unwavering commitment to acting. Offstage, her advocacy for mental health continues to resonate, inspiring others to speak out and seek help.
As she looks to the future, Close’s artistic journey continues to evolve. Her recent ventures into voice acting and her return to the stage show her relentless pursuit of new challenges and her desire to push the boundaries of her craft. Glenn Close’s story is one of resilience, transformation, and unwavering dedication to her art and advocacy, making her not just a remarkable actress, but also a profound influence in the world of mental health and beyond.
