Happy birthday, Faye Dunaway! The actress turns 76 on January 14, 2017.
Dunaway earned an Oscar nomination for her breakthrough role in 1967’s Bonnie and Clyde, and she went on to star in some of the greatest films of the ‘70s and ‘80s, including Chinatown, Network and Three Days of the Condor.
The actress also delivered an unforgettable performance in 1981’s Mommie Dearest, a role she has mixed feelings about today. Dunaway had hoped the film would offer “a window into a tortured soul, but it was made into camp,” she told People in October.
“I think it turned my career in a direction where people would irretrievably have the wrong impression of me—and that’s an awful hard thing to beat,” she added. “It’s unfortunate they felt they had to make that kind of movie. But you can’t be ashamed of the work you’ve done. You make a decision, and then you have to live with the consequence.”
Dunaway is equally matter-of-fact about growing older.
“It is what it is,” she told People. “It’s not something to moan or complain about. I still have a lot of creativity and emotion and it almost gets deeper as you get older—the more you understand and absorb.”
Launch the gallery to look back on some of Dunaway’s best movies over the years.
"Bonnie and Clyde"
Dunaway received her first Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of the notorious outlaw Bonnie Parker in this landmark 1967 crime drama.
"Chinatown"
Dunaway stars alongside Jack Nicholson in this twist-filled 1974 mystery film directed by Roman Polanski.
"The Thomas Crown Affair"
In this 1968 heist drama, Dunaway plays an insurance investigator assigned to investigate a Boston bank robbery pulled off by millionaire Thomas Crown (Steve McQueen).
"Eyes of Laura Mars"
Dunaway plays a fashion photographer with a taste for violent images in this 1981 thriller.
"Little Big Man"
Dunaway stars alongside Dustin Hoffman in this satirical 1970 Western, which offered pointed commentary on the unjust treatment of Native Americans throughout the 19th century.
"Mommie Dearest"
Dunaway delivered a chilling performance as an abusive, alcoholic Joan Crawford in this 1981 adaptation of Christina Crawford’s controversial tell-all memoir.
"Network"
Dunaway won an Oscar for Best Actress in this 1976 drama for her role as Diana Christensen, an unscrupulous TV network executive who will do anything to get ratings.
"The Three Musketeers"
Dunaway plays the nefarious Milady de Winter in this comedic 1973 adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’s classic novel.
"Three Days of the Condor"
Dunaway stars alongside Robert Redford, Cliff Robertson, and Max Von Sydow in this Oscar-nominated 1975 political thriller.
"The Towering Inferno"
Dunaway reunited with her The Thomas Crown Affair costar, Steve McQueen, in this Oscar-nominated 1974 disaster flick.
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