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| Me with Rutanya Alda at an event in Denver. |
It is not
every day one gets to meet their idol. I am one of the lucky few to have met
one of mine, the cult actress Rutanya Alda, who’s beautiful face should be
familiar to fans of 70s and 80s films. She played such diverse roles the young
bride in the classic The Deer Hunter
and Joan Crawford’s hapless personal assistant Carol Anne in the infamous Mommie Dearest. I had the good fortune
to meet with Rutanya a number of times and each time it was a revelation. Her
stories about the film industry and her days working with such veterans as
Brian De Palma, Roman Polanski, and Faye Dunaway are a treasure trove of
interesting trivia about Hollywood and how a struggling artist can strive to
succeed in the industry. A while ago, I had the privilege to conduct a short
interview with Rutanya. It is not terribly long, but her responses are amazing
and thought
provoking.
How did you start out in
the film industry?
I started out as an extra. My first job was as a student in Up the DownStaircase with Sandy Dennis. I did a lot of extra work and also photo doubled for Mia Farrow in Rosemary’s Baby, and photo doubled for Barbra Streisand and played a townsperson in Funny Girl, I also did stand in for Anne Francis in Hello, Dolly!
I started out as an extra. My first job was as a student in Up the DownStaircase with Sandy Dennis. I did a lot of extra work and also photo doubled for Mia Farrow in Rosemary’s Baby, and photo doubled for Barbra Streisand and played a townsperson in Funny Girl, I also did stand in for Anne Francis in Hello, Dolly!
What were your biggest
obstacles while establishing yourself?
The obstacles are that there are thousands of people up for the same parts and it is also hard to get seen by casting people if they don’t’ know your work.
The obstacles are that there are thousands of people up for the same parts and it is also hard to get seen by casting people if they don’t’ know your work.
What would you say is your
biggest accomplishment in the industry? Why?
The major films I have done, including The Deer Hunter, which won an Oscar for best film and the cult classic Mommie Dearest and now Amityville II: The Possession, which is becoming a classic. I love my early films by Brian de Palma; his unique and original filmmaking in the late 60s/early 70s Greetings and Hi, Mom!; working with wonderful actors - it’s a collaborative effort. It feels good when one can be in an environment that is collaborative and an actor feels safe to try and be creative in the moment.
The major films I have done, including The Deer Hunter, which won an Oscar for best film and the cult classic Mommie Dearest and now Amityville II: The Possession, which is becoming a classic. I love my early films by Brian de Palma; his unique and original filmmaking in the late 60s/early 70s Greetings and Hi, Mom!; working with wonderful actors - it’s a collaborative effort. It feels good when one can be in an environment that is collaborative and an actor feels safe to try and be creative in the moment.
What advice would you give
to young people fresh out of film school and trying to launch a career in the
film industry today?
My advice is if you have a second choice, do it. The film industry as an actor is really tough and you have to have no choice but to do it. It’s like a virus that you can’t shake. Its the burning desire to express and create. I often tell people “don’t do it” and if they take my advice then I think they have saved themselves a lot of pain. If they don’t take my advice, they have the virus and they must do it. There are hundreds and maybe thousands of people up for one part. The odds are like the lottery. So many variables come into why one is cast. And often the best people are not. Your age, your color of hair, who you know; silly things that have nothing to do with your talent. Your sanity is often questioned. Having said all of this, if one must one must. I certainly had to. I also think the industry has changed so much. If one can do one’s own projects, write, film and get it out there -- Being in charge of your own destiny, so to speak, as much as possible, and create, create, create on your own as much as possible so you don’t put your future in someone else’s hands all the time. I also recommend studying all the time. Keep getting better. Study with good people. I am still in class 40 years later. I continue to grow and get better and better as an actress and creative person.
My advice is if you have a second choice, do it. The film industry as an actor is really tough and you have to have no choice but to do it. It’s like a virus that you can’t shake. Its the burning desire to express and create. I often tell people “don’t do it” and if they take my advice then I think they have saved themselves a lot of pain. If they don’t take my advice, they have the virus and they must do it. There are hundreds and maybe thousands of people up for one part. The odds are like the lottery. So many variables come into why one is cast. And often the best people are not. Your age, your color of hair, who you know; silly things that have nothing to do with your talent. Your sanity is often questioned. Having said all of this, if one must one must. I certainly had to. I also think the industry has changed so much. If one can do one’s own projects, write, film and get it out there -- Being in charge of your own destiny, so to speak, as much as possible, and create, create, create on your own as much as possible so you don’t put your future in someone else’s hands all the time. I also recommend studying all the time. Keep getting better. Study with good people. I am still in class 40 years later. I continue to grow and get better and better as an actress and creative person.
~Evgueni Mlodik
