Sissy Spacek is best known for her role as the scary telekinetic teenager in Carrie (1976), where her big moment at prom has her covered in pig’s blood.
At that time, she was a beautiful 27-year-old off-screen, and she was so convincing in her scary role that fans still say, “she terrifies me to this day.”
While her character might bring up feelings of fear, fans are now praising the 74-year-old actress for aging naturally and not looking “weird from plastic surgery.”
Keep reading to see what fans are saying about this talented Hollywood star!
Sissy Spacek was born Mary Elizabeth and grew up in a small town in Texas. She chased around her two older brothers, who called her “Sissy.”
Now, at 74, she is known all over the world and is likely best remembered for her Oscar-nominated role in Carrie, based on Stephen King’s story.
While filming Carrie, Spacek shared that she fully embraced her character by not brushing her teeth or her hair.
“I wanted to feel really bad about myself,” Spacek explained. “There’s nothing like not washing your face or brushing your teeth in the morning. I put Vaseline in my hair, and that made me feel really low. And that helped me get into character,” she told CBS.
In one of the scariest scenes ever, Carrie, who everyone thinks is dead, makes one last appearance at the end. Her bloody arm reaches out from her grave, grabbing the hand of a former classmate.
Speaking with NPR about her career, Spacek – whose cousin was the late Rip Torn – said she loved the fear factor of that scene: “I would go to theaters just to see the last five minutes of the film and watch everyone jump out of their seats.” She continued, “The film ends about eight times, as (director Brian De Palma) said. People get relaxed, the music is really nice and calming, and then suddenly that scene happens, and people just go wild.”
After several praised performances in other films, Spacek, who originally wanted to be a singer, was cast in her Oscar-winning role as Loretta Lynn in Coal Miner’s Daughter, where she sang songs made famous by the country star. Spacek also received a Grammy nomination for Best Country Vocal Performance.
Happy birthday, Sissy Spacek! The Oscar-winning actress turns 66 today. https://t.co/5T0dDF5jCK #Carrie #hbd pic.twitter.com/AdiKJo88ot
— IMDb (@IMDb) December 26, 2015
The star of The Help has played many roles, from a telekinetic teen to a killer’s love interest, a homewrecker, a single mom, and about 200 other characters, winning numerous awards, including three Golden Globes, over her more than 50 years of acting.
Throughout those 50 years, fans have watched her grow from a messy high schooler to a beautiful, mature woman.
In 2022, Schuyler was asked to take on her mother’s famous role in a new Carrie remake, but she said no, explaining that it “just didn’t feel like the right thing for so many reasons.”
“I feel like Carrie is such an epic film as it is. So, the idea of trying to do anything else to recreate it just didn’t feel necessary,” she said.
‘Beautiful mama Sissy’
In an Instagram post shared on March 12, 2024, Schuyler wrote, “It’s hard to sum up how special this was for me.” She talked about her excitement from “cheering on” her dad and being at the Academy Awards with her mom and sister.
Fans showed their joy at seeing the whole family together: “Wow. What a special moment in time. There’s nothing better than celebrating your people!”
One fan shared, “How extremely special!! You all look amazing! This is beautiful…all of you. Inside out.” Another fan wrote, “Absolutely stunning! The all-around best!”
Other fans praised Spacek and admired her beauty. One said, “And your beautiful mama Sissy, my favorite actress, iconic and legendary and one of the BEST ever.” Another added, “Sissy, you still look fabulous.”