Barbara Hershey

Barbara Hershey – Life, Career & Notable Legacy

Explore the remarkable career of Barbara Hershey (born February 5, 1948) — an acclaimed American actress whose versatility, resilience, and craft have earned major awards, critical respect, and memorable performances across film and television.

Introduction

Barbara Hershey, born Barbara Lynn Herzstein, is an American actress whose career spans more than five decades. Although she began acting as a teenager, her greatest critical acclaim arrived in the 1980s and beyond. Known for her emotional depth, bold choices, and willingness to take on complex, often troubled roles, Hershey has built a body of work that defies easy categorization. She has excelled in genres ranging from drama to horror to art cinema, earning awards like the Emmy and Golden Globe, multiple Cannes Best Actress honors, and Oscar and BAFTA nominations.

Early Life and Background

Barbara Lynn Herzstein was born on February 5, 1948, in Hollywood, California. Arnold Nathan Herzstein, a horse-racing columnist, and Melrose Moore Herzstein.

As a child, Hershey was very shy—so quiet that some assumed she was deaf.

Acting Beginnings (1960s–1970s)

Hershey’s on-screen career began around 1965, when she landed a minor role on the television series Gidget. The Monroes.

Her early film roles included With Six You Get Eggroll (1968) and the Western Heaven with a Gun (1969). Last Summer (1969) as “Sandy,” in a storyline involving peer pressure and violence.

A noteworthy—and haunting—episode in her early years involves a seagull used on set: after multiple takes tossing the bird, the final throw broke its neck. Hershey later said she felt a moral burden over the bird’s death and briefly changed her stage name to Barbara Seagull in tribute.

In 1972, she starred in Boxcar Bertha, the first Hollywood feature directed by Martin Scorsese. The Last Temptation of Christ, which later led to her role as Mary Magdalene in his film version of that novel.

Throughout the 1970s, however, her career was uneven. She became romantically linked with her co-star David Carradine, and the relationship, along with controversies about her stage name and public image, affected her opportunities.

Rise to Critical Acclaim (1980s–1990s)

The 1980s marked a turning point for Hershey. Her performance in The Stunt Man (1980) drew critical acclaim and signaled her transition into mature, layered roles. The Entity (1982), demonstrating her versatility in psychological horror.

She then took key roles in The Right Stuff (1983), playing Glennis Yeager (wife of test pilot Chuck Yeager), and The Natural (1984) as Harriet Bird.

In 1986, Hershey starred in Hannah and Her Sisters (Woody Allen), which earned her a BAFTA nomination.

Her greatest accolades came in the late 1980s: she won Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival twice—first for Shy People (1987), then for A World Apart (1988). The Last Temptation of Christ (1988).

In 1990, Hershey won both an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries/TV Film for A Killing in a Small Town. Academy Award (Best Supporting Actress) and won the Los Angeles Film Critics award for her role in The Portrait of a Lady.

During the 1990s, Hershey’s film roles included Last of the Dogmen (1995) and Falling Down (1993). She also began a longtime relationship with actor Naveen Andrews starting in 1999.

Later Career & Notable Recent Work

In the 2000s and 2010s, Hershey continued to work steadily on film and television. She appeared in Australian film Lantana (2001) and the thriller 11:14 (2003). Once Upon a Time (as Cora, Queen of Hearts) and Insidious (2011).

In 2021, she starred in The Manor, a horror thriller in which she portrayed a nursing-home resident experiencing troubling visions and confusion about reality.

Awards, Honors & Distinctions

Barbara Hershey’s achievements include:

• Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award for A Killing in a Small Town (1990)

• Two Cannes Best Actress Awards, for Shy People and A World Apart

• Academy Award nomination (Best Supporting Actress) for The Portrait of a Lady

• Los Angeles Film Critics Award for The Portrait of a Lady

• BAFTA nominations for roles in Hannah and Her Sisters and Black Swan

Her body of work demonstrates both critical and popular respect, with her peers often citing her as one of the more serious and courageous actresses of her generation.

Personality, Challenges & Resilience

Hershey’s career has not been without turbulence. In the 1970s, her relationship with David Carradine was highly publicized; in addition, she faced criticism over her name change to “Seagull,” her public decision to breastfeed on television, and rumors about substance use—though she has denied the latter.

Over time, she retreated from public life to protect her privacy. By the 1990s and later, she maintained a reputation as a reserved, introspective artist.

Hershey also spoke about disappointment and resilience in her craft:

“One thing that isn’t dependent on whether I’m hired or not is my love of acting, and it’s been the one thing that’s been a golden thread inside me… I can be disappointed, and I just let myself feel that and go through it.”

Her willingness to accept hard roles, vulnerability, and complexity has marked her work throughout.

Selected Filmography & Roles

Here is a sampling of notable films and television in Barbara Hershey’s career:

Year	Title	Role / Note
1968	With Six You Get Eggroll	Early film role	1969	Heaven with a Gun	Western role, met David Carradine	1969	Last Summer	Controversial dramatic role	1972	Boxcar Bertha	Early major film under Scorsese	1980	The Stunt Man	Breakthrough dramatic performance	1983	The Right Stuff	Played Glennis Yeager	1984	The Natural	Role of Harriet Bird	1986	Hannah and Her Sisters	BAFTA-nominated supporting role	1988	Shy People / A World Apart	Cannes Best Actress wins	1988	The Last Temptation of Christ	Mary Magdalene, Golden Globe nomination	1990	A Killing in a Small Town	Emmy & Golden Globe wins	1996	The Portrait of a Lady	Oscar nomination, critics’ award	2001	Lantana	Australian drama	2011	Insidious	Horror film role	2021	The Manor	Recent role as a nursing-home patient with psychological tension Legacy and Influence Barbara Hershey is often lauded for her emotional authenticity, courage with difficult roles, and continuing relevance even into later decades. Her career trajectory—from early setbacks, public scrutiny, reinvention, and eventual critical timbre—offers a model of perseverance in Hollywood’s shifting landscape. She is sometimes called “one of America’s finest actresses” by critics, and has inspired younger performers with her commitment to character, nuance, and integrity. Her work continues to attract interest—not only for her performances but for how she has navigated personal and professional challenges over decades in a demanding industry. Articles by the author Sydney's a beautiful city. It was a great experience. Barbara Hershey Yes, it was love at first sight. I feel that after all these years, I have finally found my soul mate. Barbara Hershey Home Topics Topics Age Quotes Alone Quotes Quotes of the day Authors Blogs