
1974 marked my introduction to Stephen King’s novel “Carrie,” a chilling tale that found its way onto the silver screen two years later with Sissy Spacek as the introverted yet psychically gifted protagonist. The film, directed by Brian De Palma, subtly altered some of the more graphic scenes from the book, such as Carrie’s act of killing her mother, opting for a less visually jarring portrayal that still retained the essence of the story.
For her audition to play the tormented teen, Spacek deliberately adopted an unkempt appearance, donning a worn dress and foregoing dental hygiene. The film’s makeup team initially attempted to improve her looks, not realizing she intentionally made herself look worse. Fortunately, her foresight paid off, resulting in Spacek securing the lead role and earning six Oscar nominations for her captivating performance.