The bestShelley Duvallmovies and TV shows reveal exactly why the star ofThe ShiningandPopeyecame to be known as a legendary presence on the screen. Born in 1949 in Texas, Shelly Duvall was discovered by director Robert Altman, who she came to work with frequently following her debut in his 1970 comedyBrewster McCloud.From there, Duvall found herself starring in many of the best films of the 1970s and 1980s, with her career reaching its highly celebrated peak with films likePopeyeand, of course, Stanley Kubrick’sThe Shining.
However, despite being regarded as an incredible presence on-screen in the 2020s, Shelley Duvall was somewhat under-appreciated in her time - especially when it came to awards and accolades.Shelley Duvall unfortunately passed awayin 2024, aged 75, though by this time, her legacy was cemented and celebrated by many critics and career peers - and the best Shelley Duvall movies and TV shows make it easy to see why.
McCabe & Mrs. Miller
Cast
McCabe & Mrs. Miller, directed by Robert Altman, stars Warren Beatty as gambler John McCabe and Julie Christie as brothel madam Constance Miller. Set in a remote Pacific Northwest mining town at the turn of the 20th century, the film explores themes of ambition and partnership amidst a backdrop of frontier life and corporate interest. The narrative is underscored by a melancholic atmosphere, enhanced by Leonard Cohen’s music.
While she only had a minor rolein the 1971 Westernfrom director Robert Altman, the strength of her performance ensured thatMcCabe & Mrs. Millerwould forever be known as one of the best Shelley Duvall movies. The grounded revisionist Western is one of several Shelly Duvall films helmed by Altman, and while the cast ofMcCabe & Mrs. Millerfeatured Julie Christie as the female lead (for which she won an Oscar nomination), Altman had the perfect role for Duvall’s unique talents.
InMcCabe & Mrs. Miller,Shelley Duvall plays Ida Coyle, a sex worker who takes up employment at the brothel owned by Julie Christie’s Constance Miller. The plot ofMcCabe & Mrs. Milleris incredibly tragic throughout, andDuvall’s dramatic skills in the role of Ida Coyle are essential for many scenes - particularly when sharing the screen with Christie.
Annie Hall
Annie Hall, directed by Woody Allen, stars Allen as comedian Alvy Singer and Diane Keaton as the titular character. The film explores the complexities of relationships through Alvy’s reflections on his romance with Annie, blending comedy and introspective drama. It won multiple Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and is noted for its innovative narrative techniques and sharp dialogue.
Shelley Duvall appeared in 1977’sAnnie Hallas part of an all-star cast that included the likes of thenow-controversial Woody Allen(who also directed), Dian Keaton, and Christopher Walken. Shelley Duvall plays Pam in the dry and biting rom-com, and without a doubt is given some of the most hilarious lines in the entire film.
While her role may be relatively minor,Annie Hallis considered a cinematic classic, making its way onto many critics’ lists of best movies of all time (which also cements it as one of the best that Shelley Duvall appears in). The film won a slew of awards upon its release, include the Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress for Diane Keaton.While not Shelley Duvall’s most prominent role, it’s one of the best examples of how her presence can significantly elevate an already strong ensemble cast.
Roxanne
Roxanne, directed by Fred Schepisi, is a romantic comedy starring Steve Martin as C.D. Bales, a witty fire chief with an unusually large nose, and Daryl Hannah as Roxanne, a beautiful astronomer. The film is a modern retelling of Edmond Rostand’s play Cyrano de Bergerac, focusing on themes of love, self-acceptance, and inner beauty while delivering a mix of humor and heartfelt moments.
Like many of the best Shelley Duvall movies, the part of Dixie in 1987’sRoxannewasn’t a lead role, but it was an exceptional performance (and one in which Duvall stole many scenes). Directed by Fred Schepisi, 1987’sRoxannestars Steve Martinand Daryl Hannah, from a script that was written by Martin. Duvall’s character inRoxanne,Dixie, is the best friend of Martin’s Charlie “C.D.” Bales, making her integral to the romance arc between C.D. and the titular Roxanne (Hannah) in many ways.
Roxanneranks among the best Shelley Duvall films thanks largely to the incredible chemistry she and Steve Martin share on-screen.Duvall’s Dixie is the voice of reason in many scenes, and provides a perfect counter-balance to the borderline-neurotic persona of Martin’s C.D.Like many of the most celebrated movies Shelley Duvall appears in,Roxannewas nominated for many awards and accolades, though in this case they were all for Steve Martin in his role as both an actor and writer.
Faerie Tale Theatre
Faerie Tale Theatre is a live-action television anthology series that debuted in 1982, presenting retellings of popular fairy tales. Each episode features well-known actors bringing classic stories to life in a unique and imaginative format, blending traditional storytelling with a contemporary twist.
While she’s most known for her movie appearances, Shelley Duvall was no stranger to the small screen.When it comes to the best Shelley Duvall TV shows, it’sShelley Duvall’s Faerie Tale Theatrethat’s arguably the strongest, which ran on Showtime from 1982 to 1987. Shelley Duvall hosted the anthology series as well as playing multiple roles, and - as evidenced by the fact that the show bore her name - was the centerpiece of the charming fantasy show.
While aimed predominantly at younger viewers,Shelley Duvall’s Faerie Tale Theatrehas moments that appeal to older audience members too. It also spawned several spinoffs which Duvall also produced, including a horror-themed series,Nightmare Classics,which had more mature themes. The show won both a Peabody and TCA Award, with the follow-up showTall Tales & Legendsalso nominated for a Primetime Emmy in 1988.
Nashville
Nashville is a film that explores the intertwining lives of twenty-four characters linked to the music industry in Nashville, Tennessee, including country stars, aspiring musicians, reporters, and waitresses, reflecting the vibrant cultural and social landscape of the city.
A year after working with Robert Altman in the crime thrillerThieves Like Us,Shelley Duvall appeared in another one of the director’s projects, the 1975 musical dramedyNashville.Duvall was one of a large ensemble cast that also included an early appearance from Jeff Goldblum, as well as many contemporary stars like David Arkin, Barbara Baxley, and Ned Beatty.Nashvilleis another one of the best Shelley Duvall movies that stands out not because she was a central character, but because of how much she elevated the scenes in which she appeared.
InNashville,Shelley Duvall plays L.A. Joan (real name Martha). Joan claims she’s visiting the titular Texas city to care for her terminally ill aunt, but in reality simply seeks to win the affections of a musician -anymusician.The movie itself received a staggering 5 Academy Award nominations and 11 Golden Globe nods, and many critics considerNashvilleamong the funniest filmsof the 1970s.When it comes to the best Shelley Duvall movies specifically, it’s an incredible performance from the actror, though her not being a central cast member precludes it from ranking higher.
Brewster McCloud
Brewster McCloud is a 1970 comedy film directed by Robert Altman. The movie follows a young recluse, Brewster McCloud, played by Bud Cort, who lives in the Houston Astrodome and is obsessed with building a pair of wings so he can fly. Sally Kellerman co-stars as his enigmatic protector, while the plot also involves a series of mysterious murders investigated by a detective played by Michael Murphy.
Of all the best Shelley Duvall movies directed by Robert Altman, the 1970 black comedyBrewster McCloudis one of the strangest. It also marks her feature film debut, which makes the fact it remains one of her most memorable performances all the more impressive.Brewster McCloudfocuses on the titular character, Brewster (Bud Cort), a reclusive young man who lives in a fallout shelter under the Houston Aerodrome.
The comedy has many elements of a murder mystery, as Brewster becomes a key suspect in several deaths involving birds. Shelley Duvall’s character Suzanne is a tour guide at the Aerodrome and becomes both the key romantic interest and, ultimately, the one responsible for Brewster’s downfall.It’s a role that involves as many dramatic and emotional moments as it does comedic ones, and, as Duvall’s debut, laid solid foundations for her successful movie career that followed.
Thieves Like Us
Thieves Like Us (1974) is a crime drama directed by Robert Altman. The film follows the lives of three convicts who break out of prison and embark on a series of bank robberies in Depression-era Mississippi. Featuring Keith Carradine, Shelley Duvall, and John Schuck, the film explores the complexities of crime, loyalty, and human relationships against a backdrop of social upheaval.
LikeMcCabe & Mrs. Miller,Nashville, and Brewswet McCloud, Thieves Like Usis a collaboration between Shelley Duvalland director Robert Altman. However, the 1974 crime thriller places Duvall in a much more central role, with her performance (especially the chemistry shared with co-star Keith Carradine) cementing it as one of her best movies. InThieves Like Us,Shelley Duvall plays Keechie, the daughter of a garage owner who finds herself caught up in a deadly criminal feud.
Thieves Like Uswas only Shelley Duvall’s third movie appearance, following on from 1970’sBrewster McCloudandMcCabe & Mrs. Millerin 1971. In her early 20s at the time, playing the teenaged Keechie inThieves Like Uswas an early display of the incredible talent Duvall possessed when it came to roles in dramas and thrillers. What’s more,her performance as Keechie, a young woman thrust into danger due to dangerous older men, foreshadowed many of her later career-defining roles like that of Wendy Torrance inThe Shining.
Popeye
Based on the comic strip character created by Jules Feiffer, Popeye is a 1980 musical comedy that starred Robin Williams and Shelly Duvall. While searching for his missing father, Popeye arrives in the town of Sweethaven to meet the future love of his life, Olive, while dealing with her overbearing fiance.
By the 1980s, Shelley Duvall’s career was at its peak - though she was still working frequently with Robert Altman, the director who’d helped launch her career. By far the duo’s most blockbuster project was the live-actionPopeyemovie, which saw Duvall co-starring alongside comedy legend Robin Williams. With Williams as the titular spinach-eating sailor man, Shelley Duvall appeared opposite as Popeye’s long-time romantic interest, Olive Oyl.
While not the most critically acclaimed of the best Shelley Duvall movies (especially when it was released in 1980),Popeyehas been viewed much more warmly in retrospect. Duvall’s performance in particular has been praised time and time again. Herresemblance to Olive Oylis, in a word, uncanny. While comedies weren’t the staple of her career,Popeyeshowed a different side of Shelley Duvall’s range, and it’s clear she could have seen great success in roles that required her to use her physicality to hilarious effect as she did when embodying Olive Oyl.
3 Women
3 Women, directed by Robert Altman, follows three women whose lives intersect in a dusty California desert town. The film stars Shelley Duvall as Millie Lammoreaux, Sissy Spacek as Pinky Rose, and Janice Rule as Willie Hart, an artist who harbors deep secrets. The narrative delves into identity and interpersonal relationships in a surreal environment, exploring the complex dynamics and shifting personas of the characters.
Shelly Duvall’s best movie, as far as awards and accolades are concerned, is the 1997 drama3 Women,once again directed by her longtime collaborator Robert Altman (who, in this instance, also was responsible for the story and script). For3 Women,Altman cast Duvall in a lead role, that of Mildred Malloreaux, referred to as Millie. The film is a complex and nuanced one, as is Duvall’s character of Millie - and her skill at navigating the ups and downs of the character’s story drew a great deal of praise from critics.
For3 Women,Shelly Duvall won the award for Best Actress at the 1977 Cannes Film Festival and from the L.A. Film Critics Association the same year, and was nominated for a BAFTA, National Society of Film Critics Award, and New York Film Critics Circle award in the same category.While not her most widely known movie appearance, playing Millie in3 Womenstands as one of the best performances of Shelley Duvall’s career, and should be considered essential viewing for fans.
It’s difficult to argue that any film deserves consideration as the best Shelley Duvall movie more thanThe Shining,as her incredible performance cemented her place in pop culture and as a household name. Directed bythe legendary Stanley Kubrickand adapting the novel of the same name by the equally legendary author Stephen King,The Shiningwas a career-defining appearance for Shelley Duvall. Her performance as Wendy Torrance has influenced female leads in horror films ever since, and to call it iconic is an understatement.
Starring alongside Jack Nicholson as Wendy’s increasingly unhinged husband, Jack Torrance,The Shiningfeatures multiple scenes in which Shelley Duvall steals the show.Whether it’s screaming in terror as Jack busts through a bathroom door with an axe, backing away from him on a staircase, or portraying a wave of panic with unnerving authenticity when Wendy discovers his manuscript, Shelley Duvall’s performance inThe Shiningwas integral to the film’s success.It’s easily her most well-known film, and nothing else the actor appeared in comes close to deserving the title of the bestShelleyDuvall movie.
