Whatever Happened to ‘Splash’ Star Daryl Hannah?
What To Know
- Daryl Hannah rose to fame in the 1980s with iconic roles in films like Splash, Blade Runner, and Roxanne.
- While she continued acting in projects such as Kill Bill and Sense8, Hannah shifted her focus to activism.
- Hannah married musician Neil Young in 2018.
Ryan Murphy‘s Love Story explores the relationship between John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette (played by Paul Anthony Kelly and Sarah Pidgeon), tracing their whirlwind romance from its glamorous beginnings to the intense media scrutiny that ultimately defined their lives.
The series examines how the couple struggled to protect their marriage while living under the relentless spotlight that followed the Kennedy name, capturing both the fairy-tale allure and the private pressures behind the headlines.
Among the all-star cast are Naomi Watts as matriarch Jackie Kennedy, Grace Gummer as Caroline Kennedy, Ben Shenkman as Edwin Schlossberg, and Dree Hemingway as movie star Daryl Hannah, who was a former girlfriend of JFK Jr.
In the ’80s, Daryl Hannah was the “It” girl of Hollywood, starring in several blockbusters and A-list projects, but in the last 40 years, the one-time New York mermaid has drifted into solitude, leaving much of the limelight behind.
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What was Daryl Hannah best known for?
Daryl Hannah made a splash as a teenage model in 1982’s made-for-TV movie Paper Dolls and as Pris in Blade Runner, but she became a household name starring as a lovestruck mermaid in Ron Howard‘s Splash in 1984. After her stint as Madison, Hannah jumped to the top of Hollywood’s A list with starring roles in Legal Eagles opposite Robert Redford, Roxanne opposite Steve Martin, Wall Street opposite Charlie Sheen, and Steel Magnolias opposite Dolly Parton and Sally Field.
Then in the 1990s, she dropped off a bit, playing supporting roles more often than not, though she worked constantly.
Lionsgate / Courtesy Everett Collection
In 2003, she was introduced to audiences as assassin Elle Driver in Quentin Tarantino‘s Kill Bill saga and continued to work steadily, but it was nowhere near the same level as her previous work.
More recent audiences might recognize her as cluster mother Angelica in Netflix’s sci-fi series Sense8.
Did Daryl Hannah quit acting?
She never quit acting, but it did not become the focus of her life.
Hannah found a passion as an environmental activist and has been arrested several times due to her commitment to saving the world.
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“I go back and forth. Sometimes I’m very optimistic, when I’ve just participated in some action with young people and can see that there is a growing awareness,” said Hannah to The Guardian. “But then, when you see the brick wall of resistance within the legislative and political system, it can be very frustrating.”
“Generally, I end up taking pictures with the sheriffs at the station. So I do get singled out, not necessarily in good ways. The times I’ve been put in jail, I’m always in solitary. Partly because they think, ‘Oh, she must be the ringleader.’ Partly to protect me from the drunks and murderers,” Hannah revealed. “It’s kind of scary and boring being in solitary.”
But her passion for the environment was not what hindered her career. In an interview with Ronan Farrow for The New Yorker, Hannah came forward about the predatory behavior of former Miramax head, Harvey Weinstein.
In an interview, Hannah revealed that after she rejected Weinstein’s advances, which allegedly included almost knocking her door down and asking to touch her inappropriately, she believed Weinstein retaliated against her professionally. During the #MeToo movement, Hannah spoke publicly about her experiences for the first time to help fellow victims. “I feel a moral obligation to support the women who have suffered much more egregious transgressions,” she told Farrow.
In 2013, Hannah also revealed that she was diagnosed with autism as a child and that her debilitating shyness made public appearances and promotional tours for projects difficult. For her, acting was a beautiful experience, but being a movie star with all its obligations was terrifying.
“I am a private person, with a rule of speaking to the press only for professional reasons,” she told Ronan Farrow in a New Yorker interview.
Who is Daryl Hannah married to?
Hannah is married to Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young. They began their relationship publicly in 2014 and tied the knot in 2018.
Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for SXSW)
Does Daryl Hannah have kids?
Hannah does not have any biological children of her own. However, she became a stepmother to musician Neil Young’s three adult children — Zeke, Ben, and Amber Young —following their marriage in 2018. She has no children with Young.
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