“The Exorcist” It is one of the most terrifying films in history, December 26, 2023 marked the 50th anniversary of its release. The story of the possession and subsequent exorcism of a girl was an unprecedented success, however it brought with it an alleged curse, and one of the people who suffered the most was the protagonist of it, Linda Blair
Linda stepped into Regan MacNeil’s shoes, and she excelled. Despite her young age, her talent was visible to everyone, she obtained several awards and recognition from the artistic environment for her performance. But contrary to what could be expected, her career did not grow after that significant role of hers.
At the age of 13, Blair’s career, which had begun at the age of five as a model and had already given her some popularity as the image of the catalogs of Macy’s and a series of advertisements The New York Times, seemed to be heading definitively towards acting. She did not imagine then that she would never be able to free herself from the diabolical stigma of the film that made her famous throughout the world.
To become the main figure of a very disturbing story, one of those that at times makes it difficult to keep your eyes on the screen, she had to undergo intense makeup sessions during a good part of the filming of the film. In the end, the film was a massive success worldwide.
At the casting, Linda had been chosen among 600 applicants (she beat other prodigy actresses such as Melanie Griffith and Laura Dern). His work was so good that he got an award nomination Oscar and a prize Golden Globe for “Best Supporting Actress.”
From terror in fiction, to terror in real life
After the premiere of “The Exorcist”, in December 1973, fainting, vomiting, heart attacks and at least one spontaneous abortion were reported in the screening rooms. The film was accused everywhere of causing mental disorders in viewers and was even used as an argument in the defense of a murderer who said he had become possessed after watching the film.
Despite that, it was an absolute boom with the public: people lined up to see that girl in a trance vomiting green and blaspheming. Linda’s image immediately became synonymous with the devil.
Being the most visible face of the demon complicated his daily life quite a bit: “I could no longer go to the supermarket, or a store, or anywhere. People saw me and were scared to death. They couldn’t separate the film from the person: they looked at me as if I were the devil”.
She soon began to be harassed by religious groups and fanatics who claimed she was possessed and threatened to kidnap her. She had to hide in her parents’ friends’ houses and Warner hired bodyguards who followed her for six months after her release. That left her with a trauma that she did not overcome: “I think it is one of the main reasons why I never had a child: I was terrified that he would be kidnapped.”
Blair and her family made a drastic decision: they had to move. Thus, they passed through New Jersey, Connecticut and Vermont. While both Linda worked on low-quality productions and “Born innocent” (Donald Wrye, 1974) or “Sweet kidnapping” (Lee Phillips, 1975).
At only 15 years old, her real life began to look more and more like those fictions that she starred in when she became a girlfriend with the actor and singer. Rick Springfield, ten years older than her. The age difference that was evident every time they appeared together at Hollywood premieres and parties was a scandal even by the standards of the time.
His relationship with the guitarist Lynyrd Skynyrd, Gary Rossington, was no less scandalous. She had gone with him to the funeral of the band’s singer, Ronnie Van Zant, in 1977, when a police raid ended with Linda charged with possession and sale of amphetamines and cocaine. She was 17 years old and would be sentenced to three years of probation.
He spent nine of those months in a rehabilitation center and the rest of the time making public appearances in which he gave messages to young people about the dangers of drugs, as part of his community duties. That same year it was released “The Heretic”the sequel to “The Exorcist”, which was received with terrible reviews. Blair had put on weight and the press even made fun of his weight. At that time she was admitted to a psychiatric hospital for depression.
Her courtship with the musician Rick James, known for his orgies and his addiction to crack, in 1981, once again marginalized her from major Hollywood productions. She ended up accepting roles in B movies and erotic thrillers and even posed nude for Playboy to show that he had recovered his figure.
Everything continued from bad to worse. At age 23 she was admitted to a psychiatric hospital. Eight years later, in 1989, she managed to leave the health center. She and she acted again, in this case, in the comedy “And where is the Exorcist?”a parody of the famous film that brought her fame.
Without giving up, and wanting to re-enter Hollywood, he had a small role in “Scream” (Wes Craven, 1996), made some television films and starred in an episode of the series “Supernatural”.
Linda Blair today.jpg
Getty Images
In 2004 he created the non-profit foundation Linda Blair WorldHeart Foundation, which rescues and rehabilitates abandoned animals. She changed her diet and, after thirteen years of vegetarianism, in 2001 she became vegan and wrote a book about her experience.
Today, about to turn 65, the pea soup she vomited in her role as Regan MacNeil is still one of her favorite dishes.
“Do you also believe in the curse of The Exorcist?” he was asked ten years ago in an interview with He Country“For me, the devil is no joke,” Blair responds. But it’s the people who don’t let me forget The Exorcist. Fame made my life impossible.”
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
