by
Leon Acord
OK, so maybe it took her a while to catch on.
After all, she’s not just “Carol Ann.” Veteran character actress
Rutanya Alda has played dozens and dozens of roles in her career, in such famous films as The Deer Hunter, Last Exit to Brooklyn, When a Stranger Calls and the cult hit Amityville II, as well as guest roles in almost every TV show that’s shot in New York City since the mid-1980s [and, in theinterest of full disclosure, a recent guest-starring stint on my web series Old Dogs & New Tricks].
But it wasn’t until May 11, 2013, as actress Rutanya Alda was being honored at San Francisco’s historic Castro Theatre, that she realized Mommie Dearest—the Faye Dunaway vehicle in which Alda had played Joan Crawford’s faithful maid—had a huge gay cult following.
She had decided to read snippets from the diary she had kept during production of the infamous 1981 film (which Dunaway which notoriously refused to discuss) at the event. She was so taken by the enthusiastic response that she then began thinking it might make a good book!
Jump ahead two years. Alda’s “Mommie Dearest Diaries” is set for publication in early summer. And who should call Ms. Alda’s agent but Ms. Dunaway herself, asking if Rutanya would “collaborate” (for an acknowledgement but no pay) with Dunaway on her own book about Mommie Dearest, which Dunaway recently decided to write.
Coincidence? Given Dunaway’s fury whenever asked about the film (till now)—and the fact the two actors haven’t spoken since they shot their final scene over 30 year ago—it does seem rather odd. Did Dunaway catch wind of Alda’s book? And how? Is this a pre-emptive strike? An attempt at damage control?
I talked with Rutanya as soon as I saw the news!
