Veronica Cartwright Reveals Shocking Behind-the-Scenes Secrets from ‘The Birds’ with Hitchcock

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Veronica Cartwright, a renowned Hollywood actress, is known for her faces that evoke chills: she played Lambert in ‘Alien’, Nancy in ‘Invasion of the Body Snatchers’, and Felicia in ‘The Witches of Eastwick’. These notable roles demonstrated her versatility within horror genre, solidifying her status as an unrecognized legend. However, a role that might not be readily recalled is one she played at a tender age. This was in a pioneering horror film directed by the genius Alfred Hitchcock. That movie is ‘The Birds’, a ‘nature strikes back’ horror flick.

Currently, Cartwright is showcasing her latest film, a captivating addition to the genre named “The Ruse“. According to an article by IndieWire, Cartwright portrays a musician with dementia living in a house full of mysteries for the young caregiver nurse who has just started working there. At 76 years old, Cartwright continues to demonstrate her remarkable talent, a fact not surprising given her extensive decade-long career collaborating with renowned directors such as Ridley Scott, Philip Kaufman, George Miller, and Alfred Hitchcock, the master of suspense. In an interview with IndieWire, Cartwright reminisced about her early days working with the iconic director who made the films “Psycho“, “Rear Window“, and “Vertigo“.

In simpler terms, the person never felt intimidated by him. Instead, they found it fascinating. They acquired “The Birds” because of “The Children’s Hour,” which led to Alfred Hitchcock asking for a meeting in his bungalow. During their conversation, he suggested good wines and mentioned that his favorite wine cellar was in Bristol, where the person was born. He also gave advice on how to cook a steak and said they would one day get married, which seemed strange because the person was only 12 years old at the time.

In “The Birds,” Cartwright portrays Cathy Brenner, the young girl observing the bird invasion in Bodega Bay. Directing children was not Hitchcock’s usual territory, but he provided captivating guidance to Cartwright, whose words he imparted have remained memorable throughout her life.

He stated, “‘If something appears to move, you instinctively believe it’s alive,’ and indeed, it often seems so. Even today, when I gaze at a jungle gym, I might think I see a dummy bird, but it suddenly moves.

How rare is it for someone to encounter such an event? This man was a legendary figure, and I used to share afternoon tea with him regularly.

Bringing Lambert to Life: ‘Alien’s Overlooked Scream Queen

In the late ’60s, I took a break from Tinseltown, but in the early ’70s, I found myself back in Hollywood with a bit of a stir caused by a comedic flick called “Inserts“. Fast forward three years to 1978, and I was cast in Kaufman’s “Invasion of the Body Snatchers“, which gave me an opportunity to showcase my knack for horror. The following year, 1979, I joined the crew aboard the Nostromo, becoming part of the terrified team in Ridley Scott’s masterpiece, “Alien“, one of my most memorable roles.

In many discussions, Lambert’s role is overshadowed by Ripley in the movie. However, it’s worth noting that the spaceship navigator delivers the most realistic responses on screen. Cartwright’s heart-wrenching screams of fear are just as impactful as the special effects in creating the illusion of an alien creature bursting from Kane’s body. Cartwright held Ridley Scott in high regard, sharing how he challenged her to exceed her boundaries during filming.

Being well-versed in the realm of graphic arts myself, I found myself captivated by every visual detail on set. There’s a moment where I deliver a slap to Sigourney Weaver, and each time I tried, she skillfully dodged my hand. Director Ridley Scott, ever so bluntly, urged me, “Just do it this time.” So, she ducked, and I retaliated with an unexpected backhand. Needless to say, she was far from pleased, but the scene turned out exactly as intended.

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2025-05-24 18:12