David Nezelek
Cibbuano
TyronneTuesday Weld
January 9th 2008 00:02
Unsung Blush
Tuesday Weld
Around my house there was only one woman that my father put on a pedestal for sensual beauty and that was Tuesday Weld. The fascination was passed down as I’ve gotten older my appreciation of her thespian skills has also increased.
Nominated for Oscars and Emmy’s Weld was born Susan Ker Weld in 1943, part of the Ker dynasty. Confronted with tragedy at 4 years old when her father died, her mother was the quintessential stage mum.
Rising Star
Refusing to let her children be raised by her husbands wealthy realtives, instead she whored her daughter out for modelling and television work before she turned 10 years old. This resulted in a nervous breakdown, attempted suicide and alcoholism whilst still a preteen.
Tuesday once said in an interview, “I became the supporter of the family, and I had to take my father’s place in many, many ways. I was expected to make up for everything that had ever gone wrong in Mama’s life. She became obsessed with me, pouring out her pent-up love, her alleged love on me, and it’s been heavy on my shoulders ever since. To this day, Mama thinks I owe everything to her."
By 1956 the free spirited actress was getting small film roles and at 18 years old she starred opposite Elvis in Wild in the Country and the pair had a tryst. Quickly earning a reputation in slag rags as a seducer of older men, notorious for behind the scenes romances, much of what was written was based on her developing image.
Weld with McQueen in Soldier in the Rain
Starring with Steve McQueen twice in Soldier in the Rain and later the Cincinatti Kid, her reputation as an industry professional saw her offered many prime parts, though she turned down many of the roles fans consider would have elevated her to superstar.
"I do not ever want to be a huge star. Do you think I want a success? I refused Bonnie and Clyde (1967) because I was nursing at the time but also because deep down I knew that it was going to be a huge success. The same was true of "Bob and Carol and Fred and Sue" or whatever it was called. It reeked of success" – Tuesday Weld
Her best film is the controversial “Pretty Poison” opposite Norman Bates himself Anthony Perkins, in a story that would later echo through the likes of Badlands and Natural Born Killers.
Pretty Poison 1968
Memorable even in the bad decisions, when the screenplay was good the one time wife of Dudley Moore shined like in I Walk The Line with Gregory Peck, the edgy Looking for Mr Goodbar and Who’ll Stop The Rain.
Undergoing a revival of sorts in the early 80’s with Michael Mann’s icy cool thriller Thief, John Frankenheimer’s The Rainmaker and the gangster epic Once Upon A Time in America Directed by Sergio Leone.
Weld and Roddy McDowell
Last appearing in Chelsea Walls in 2001, Tuesday Weld is an actress worth revisiting because of her seemingly genuine cinema presence. Skilfully handling difficult characters, sharing emotions Tuesday could bring depth to shallow writing by presence alone.
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Comment by Cibbuano
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Comment by Tyronne
Sydney Fun
Melbourne DiaryStar
She played Carol in Once Upon A Time in America, the older mischievous woman.
Comment by Tyronne
Sydney Fun
Melbourne DiaryStar
Totally versatile, Tuesday was never a household name but one of those actresses that's characters were always memorable.
Cool that you have seen some of her work.