In E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Dee Wallace's character arrives at the alien spaceship just in time to witness her son Elliott saying goodbye to the titular creature. As the little boy hugs E.T., tears begin to flow both on-screen and off. "Director Steven Spielberg was a very kind genius,” Dee tells Closer. “He knew exactly what he wanted, and he gave us all a lot of freedom to bring in ideas and follow our own impulses, which is when the magic happens."
With more than 250 film credits, six series and over 200 commercials on her résumé, Dee, 73, has made a lot of magic over her long career, yet she will always have a special place in her heart for E.T., which is celebrating its 40th anniversary.
"My favorite scene is when I am reading Peter Pan to Gertie [Drew Barrymore) and E.T.is spying on us. It reminds me of all the beautiful moments I have had with my own daughter when she was little,” Dee says. A special screening of the much-loved science fiction classic will kick off the 13th annual TMC Classic Film Festival on April 21 in Hollywood.
What are some of your other favorite memories filming E.T.?
Some of my favorite memories were literally watching the kids and how they got together as a family. They played basketball and ran around with each other - even the little boy with no legs (Matthew De Meritt), who'd go around on a skateboard. It was really a family affair. That transferred in a beautiful way onto the film.
What was the biggest challenge of making the movie?
Waiting! When you work with creative people, you have to be there all the time. Waiting is always hard for me. You know there's that old adage, “They don't pay an actor to act, they pay them to wait!” It's so true.
Was it hard to make-believe the E.T. creature was alive?
This story is from the April 11, 2022 edition of Closer US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 11, 2022 edition of Closer US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
DOUBLE INDEMNITY Secrets from the Set
AFTER YEARS OF PLAYING NICE, FRED MACMURRAY AND BARBARA STANWYCK SHOCKED FANS WITH THIS CLASSIC FILM NOIR THRILLER
STEVE MARTIN 5 THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT ME
THE COMIC LEGEND ON HIS EARLY YEARS, FATHERHOOD AND HOW BAD REVIEWS MADE HIM BETTER!
WHOOPI GOLDBERG - MAKING PEACE with My Past
THE VIEW CO-HOST AND OSCAR WINNER SHARES HER LOVING BUT PAINFUL FAMILY STORY IN A NEW MEMOIR
GEORGE TAKEI GO Boldly
The Star Trek alum opens up about his favorite Hollywood co-stars and his new book
Dyan Cannon - My Life BEFORE & AFTER CARY GRANT
MARRIAGE TO A HOLLYWOOD ICON WAS JUST THE START OF HER INSPIRING STORY
CATE BLANCHETT MY LIFE IN 10 Pictures
AFTER GROWING up “trying to be Nancy Drew,” Catherine Elise Blanchett wanted to investigate what was beyond her life in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia.
PRINCE WILLIAM & KATE STAYING STRONG for Our Kids
At a celebration dinner for London’s Air Ambulance service, Prince Willia m admitted that it’s been a difficult period for his family.
RENÉE ZELLWEGER HAPPIER Than Ever
THE TWOTIME OSCAR WINNER, WHOIS SET TO RETURN AS BRIDGET JONES, IS ENJOYING THE BEST TIMES OF HER LIFE
OUR DALLAS Memories
THE CAST OF THE NIGHTTIME DRAMA, WHICH RAN FROM 1978 TO 1991, REUNITED FOR A SPECIAL CHAT
I've Led a CHARMED LIFE
The Leave It to Beaver alum shares his favorite memories with Closer