Women Celebs I Love #3 - Julie Christie

I absolutely am in love with British beauty/actress Julie Christie - my favorite actress of all time. I believe it was in Dr. Zhivago that I first became witness to one of the icons of Swingin' London in the 1960's (I liken it to the quintessential California 60's "hot-tee" of which I would include American Michelle Phillips from the Mamas and the Papas, for instance). Then of course, there's her turn in the duel role in Ray Bradbury's classic book-turned-movie, Fahrenheit 451 (my favorite actor, Mel Gibson, was supposed to direct a re-make of F451 a few years ago, but he couldn't get Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt signed on for the project, among other snafu's).

Here's a quick scene from Dr. Zhivago - my God, she is gorgeous! http://youtube.com/watch?v=BSgryyxp-cg . And here's a short interview with her after she either won or received the Academy nomination for Darling. http://youtube.com/watch?v=_dZQloqs4Us

I really love the whole package, I guess. Her lips. Her stare. Perhaps the accent. The eyes. That come hither jaw line. She's feisty and extremely independent (from what I've read). And never married. Hmmm.

You have to see her and Donald Sutherland in Don't Look Now - a weirdish movie about a couple living and working abroad who are terrorized by the memory of their young daughter drowning. There's a sex scene between husband/wife Sutherland/Christie that always makes the lists of "best sex scenes in movies". It's really a 'making love' scene. You have to see it to understand it but basically there are two scenes going on at the same time - the love-making in juxtaposition with the couple getting ready and dressed to go out AFTER the love-making session. Like I said, you have to see it to really appreciate it. Well done, Mr. Roeg.

Julie with former lover Terrence Stamp in Far from the Maddening Crowd.

To the left with hat, as Lara in Dr. Zhivago. Other movies you might recognize her from include:

Away from Her, Afterglow, Heaven Can Wait, Demon Seed, Shampoo, Don't Look Now, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, Far from the Madding Crowd, Fahrenheit 451, Doctor Zhivago and Darling (for which she won the Academy Award in 1965)

Julie today. As independent and vivacious as she was 40 years ago. As recent as this week, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced their nominations for the 65th Annual Golden Globe Awards. Julie Christie has been nominated for her work in Sarah Polley's debut feature directorial debut, Away from Her. She plays Fiona, a woman whose long, sometimes shaky marriage to a once-adulterous but now steadfast husband, Grant (played by veteran Canadian actor Gordon Pinsent), goes into decline as her memory fades from Alzheimer's. To ease Grant's pain, Fiona checks herself into an institution while she still retains most of her faculties. But she deteriorates so quickly that she no longer recognizes Grant, who suffers through quiet jealousy as his wife begins a flirtation with another aging patient.

Julie Christie. I love you.