Career Challenges
Way before her untimely death, Natalie Wood faced some challenges in her career due to her fear of water. Actually, while filming Splendor in the Grass (1961) she told director Elia Kazan of her fear, asking to film a reservoir scene in a small tank instead. Wood told him she had a deep “terror of water, particularly dark water, and of being helpless in it.” However, he refused her request, wanting to capitalize on her real terror, but assuring her she would be safe in the shallow reservoir. After she shot the scene, she jumped out of the water, shivering with fear, but nervously laughed it off.
Career Challenges
Foreshadowing
Even before that film, she needed to jump into water from a yacht for The Star (1952). The director, Stuart Heisler, promised rowboats with men ready to help her would be waiting after she left the yacht’s railing. Wood reluctantly did as told but had a moment of panic and screen when she hit the water. Also at the time, she was just 14 years old.
Foreshadowing
