Glenn Close made her first mainstream appearance in 1975 in the "The Rules of the Game" episode of the television anthology series ‘Great Performances.’ She was next seen in television films like ‘Too Far to Go’ (1979), ‘Orphan Train’ (1979), and ‘The Elephant Man’ (1982). She made her big-screen debut in the 1982 American comedy-drama film ‘The World According to Garp,’ directed by George Roy Hill. Close played the role of ‘Jenny Fields’ in the film which earned her an ‘Academy Award’ nomination. She bagged 4 more ‘Academy Award’ nominations for her performance in ‘The Big Chill’ (1983), ‘The Natural’ (1984), and ‘Fatal Attraction’ (1987), and ‘Dangerous Liaisons’ (1988). In 1990, she portrayed ‘Sunny von Bülow’ in the American drama film ‘Reversal of Fortune,’ directed by Barbet Schroeder. The film opened to wide critical acclaim with critics praising the writing and performance of the cast.
The year 1993 saw the release of the period drama film ‘The House of the Spirits’ where Close portrayed ‘Ferula Trueba.’ Even though the film received several awards, it was panned by critics. ‘The House of the Spirits’ was a moderate success at the box office. In 1996, she starred as ‘Cruella de Vil’ in the adventure comedy film ‘101 Dalmatians,’ directed by Stephen Herek. While the film saw mixed reviews upon release, it was a phenomenal box office success, grossing over $320.7 million against a budget of $67 million. That same year, she also appeared in the comic science fiction film ‘Mars Attacks!’ which was a box office disappointment. Close played the role of ‘Vice President Kathryn Bennett’ in the 1997 political action thriller film ‘Air Force One,’ directed by Wolfgang Petersen. The film was a massive critical and box office success.
She next appeared in ‘Cookie's Fortune’ (1999), ‘102 Dalmatians’ (2000) where she reprised her role as ‘Cruella de Vil,’ ‘The Safety of Objects’ (2001), ‘Le Divorce’ (2003), ‘Heights’ (2004), and ‘The Stepford Wives’ (2004). In 2007, she joined the main cast of the legal thriller television series ‘Damages.’ She played the role of Patricia "Patty" Hewes which earned her a ‘Golden Globe Award’ and 2 ‘Primetime Emmy Awards.’ The show aired its final episode in 2012. In 2011, she starred as ‘Albert Nobbs’ in the drama film ‘Albert Nobbs’ for which she won an ‘Academy Award’ nomination. She went on to star in films like ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ (2014), ‘The Great Gilly Hopkins’ (2015), ‘The Girl with All the Gifts’ (2016), ‘The Wife’ (2017), and ‘Hillbilly Elegy’ (2020).
In 2021, Close acted in the science fiction drama film ‘Swan Song,’ which was directed by Benjamin Cleary. The film opened to a positive response from critics. She is all set to appear in the upcoming American comedy film ‘Brothers’ directed by Max Barbakow.
A struggling baseball team in the 1930s meet a legendary baseball player who appears out of nowhere and possesses almost supernatural skill. He joins their team, and they eventually soar to the top of the league. However, this new player’s identity is still a mystery.
After Alex passes away, several of his former college friends gather for a reunion just after the funeral. They remember some of their best times, but meanwhile, they also re-evaluate their lives.
Happily married successful Manhattan lawyer Dan Gallagher has an affair with publishing company editor Alex Forrest. Although initially agreeing that this was only a fling, Alex soon becomes increasingly obsessive and stalker-like. Keeping his family alive from Alex soon becomes Dan’s top concern rather than hiding the affair.
In Paris, the Marquise de Merteui plans revenge against her ex-lover the Comte de Bastide, by planning to seduce and dishonor his virgin fiancée Cécile de Volanges. Merteui enlists the help of the disreputable Vicomte de Valmont, who is planning his own seduction of the religious Madame de Tourvel. Meanwhile, Cécile falls in love with Chevalier Raphael Danceny.
The 10th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), the movie sees Peter Quill, a superhero, along with a group of extra-terrestrial criminals, together known as the Guardians of the Galaxy, being chased by the villain Ronan the Accuser after the former steals a mysterious orb desired by the latter.
T.S. Garp, the son of nurse Jenny Fields from a dying soldier, grows up with an aptitude for fiction writing and freestyle wrestling. Inspired by him, Jenny, too, forays into writing, earns success in feminist non-fiction, and starts a center for distressed women. This peculiar community of disparate women becomes as much part of Garp’s world as his children and unfaithful wife.
After Sunny falls into a coma after having a diabetic shock at a Christmas party, her husband Claus is charged with attempted murder. This is due to the fact that their relationship had become strained over time. Claus turns to law professor Alan Dershowitz for help.
Cruella is an adventure crime comedy drama film which revolves around Estella, a young woman who is aspiring to be a fashion designer. However, in order to achieve fame and success in the world of fashion, she eventually embraces her wicked side.
On a Montana farm, 12-year-old Arnold Hillerman’s gun fires accidently after getting stuck in the fence, killing his 17-year-old brother Eugene. When his parents receive the news, they are traumatized and angered, while his grandfather is more understanding. But Arnold is extremely distressed and is unable to communicate or express his feelings. How does the Hillerman family cope with the tragedy?
Cookie’s Fortune is a black comedy film which revolves around a dysfunctional family in a small town and their various responses to the suicide of their elderly wealthy aunt. One of them, Camille, hatches a plan with her sister to hide evidence and make the death seem like suicide.
Due to an urgent phone call, a Yale Law student is forced to go back to his hometown in Ohio. Soon he starts reflecting on three generations of his family’s history as well as his own future.
In 19th century Ireland, where women were not quite allowed to be independent, a woman poses as a man in order to find work as a butler, in the most elegant hotel in Dublin. Soon she meets a handsome artist and finds herself attracted to him.
Based on the Shakespearean tragedy, it follows Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, who returns home after his father King Hamlet’s death. He finds that his mother, Gertrude, has married his uncle Claudius, the new king. When King’s ghost appears and reveals that he was murdered by Claudius, Prince seethes to take revenge, but is also aware of the tragedy it may ensue.
5 to 7 is a romantic comedy drama film which tells the story of a young writer who starts having an affair with an older woman from France. However, due to the fact that the woman is already in an open marriage with a diplomat, she can only meet him between the hours of 5 pm and 7 pm.
Based on the video game series of the same name, the film Warcraft portrays the initial encounters between the humans and the orcs. The clashes take place in a variety of locations established in the video game series. Despite receiving negative reviews, the film became the highest-grossing video game adaptation of all time.
Based on a novel of the same name, this drama film is set during the military dictatorship in Chile. It revolves around the life of a young woman named Clara, and her husband Esteban Trueba and his political career.
Paige is a rich socialite who is murdered at her beach house by a masked intruder with a hunting knife. However, the person who is arrested for the murder is her husband Jack. He tries to hire a high-profile lawyer named Teddy Barnes for his defense, who reluctantly accepts the case. She soon starts falling in love with him.
Seven Sisters is a dystopian mystery thriller film which takes us to a future where due to overpopulation, families are allowed to have only one child, and any second or third child is put to sleep. Meanwhile seven sisters, who are septuplets, try to survive assuming a single identity, while avoiding any suspicion. However, their life takes a turn when one of them mysteriously disappears.
Shortly after U.S. President James Marshall vows never to negotiate with terrorists, Air Force One is hijacked by Russian neo-nationalists, with President's family, cabinet advisers and press members onboard. Marshall, a Vietnam War veteran, pretends to flee in an escape pod, but instead attempts to rescue the hostages while the Vice President negotiates with the terrorists.
Peter Pan has grown up and forgotten all about his childhood. He is now Peter Banning, a successful and workaholic lawyer who lives with his wife and two children. When Captain Hook, his arch-enemy, kidnaps his children, Peter returns to Neverland to save them. The journey brings back his memories and transforms him.
The Girl with All the Gifts is a science fiction horror film which revolves around Melanie, a young girl who manages to survive an apocalyptic event where most of humanity becomes mindless flesh-eaters. When the base she lives in is invaded, she manages to escape with school teacher Helen Justineau. Together they embark on a mission to save humanity.
Troy Johnson, a high school student, supplies prescription drugs to his fellow students. However, when he suddenly commits suicide, the lives of the other students slowly start crumbling and descending into chaos and misery.
Henry is an editor working for a tabloid. His job keeps him extremely busy, which is why he is unable to spend any time with his wife. He soon decides to change his job, but is forced to question his decision, when a gripping story comes his way.
Based on a novel of the same name, Evening is a romantic drama film which takes us to the life of Ann Lord, who is on her deathbed. She narrates her story of her past around 50 years ago, to her daughters.
Earth is surrounded by a fleet of Martians spaceships who initially claim to have come in peace. But they soon kill the entire U.S. Congress and later assassinate President James Dale. Earth survives when it is accidentally discovered that Martians die on hearing Slim Whitman’s song “Indian Love Call” which is then played all over the world.
Howard is a popular teacher, but his friends and family are shocked, when one of his students announces that he is gay. This leads to Howard questioning his sexuality, as well as trying his best to prove that he is straight.
Mary Reilly, an Irish girl, comes to the house of a reputed and rich doctor named Dr Henry Jekyll, to start working as a maid. Things start to change when she starts developing feelings for the doctor. Soon it seems that Dr Henry also has a dark and mysterious counterpart named Mr Edward Hyde.
The live action adaptation of the beloved animated classic, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, finds the villainous Cruella De Vil, wanting to turn 101 Dalmatians into a fur coat by killing and skinning them. It’s up to the dogs Pongo and Perdy to rescue not only their children but the remaining stolen Dalmatians.
Successful reality show executive producer Joanna Eberhart relocates with her husband and children to the Connecticut suburb of Stepford after an attempted shootout by a disheartened participant. There she finds the wives to be rather insipid, shallow and overly obedient. Soon, she starts suspecting that everything is not right.
After spending three years in jail, Cruella apparently transforms into a good woman. However, when the loud noises of the Big Ben reach her, she reverts to her previous state and decides to kidnap 102 Dalmatian puppies for a new coat.
Isabel learns that her sister, who is a poetess, has been left by her French husband, and therefore, she decides to help her escape her misery. However, soon it seems that her sister is being stalked by someone.
Pinocchio is a fantasy comedy film which tells the story of Pinocchio, a wooden puppet, who wishes to become an actual human boy. Despite the love of his creator and guidance from the Blue Fairy, he only finds himself in one wild adventure after another.
A young boy grows up amongst the gorillas in African wilderness after he is rescued by Kala, a gentle gorilla, who names him Tarzan. Their lives change when humans Jane Porter, her father, and hunter-guide Clayton arrive from England. Tarzan finds true love in Jane and must stop Clayton and his poachers from capturing his gorilla family.
Based on the famous folktale, the film shows Little Red Riding Hood arriving at her Granny’s home only to find Big Bad Wolf impersonating as the old woman. As the wolf tries to attack her, Granny jumps out of the closet and an axe-wielding woodman jumps in through the window. When the police arrive at the scene they start asking everyone their version of the story.
Red Riding Hood is training with a secret group named Sister Hoods. However, she and the Wolf is soon called, in order to examine the sudden disappearance of Hansel and Gretel.
Glenn Close Awards
| The Wife | Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama | 2019 |
| Damages | Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama | 2008 |
| The Lion in Winter | Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television | 2005 |
| Damages | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | 2009 |
| Damages | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | 2008 |
| Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Special | 1995 |
| Winner | Favorite Motion Picture Actress | 1988 |
