A horror film icon who shot to fame in a ‘cursed’ blockbuster which threw her private life into turmoil was seen on a uncommon public outing this week.
The Oscar nominated star’s debut main position, noticed her develop into a worldwide star however hit with demise threats and sensationally accused of selling Satanic beliefs.
Her later profession could be blighted by field workplace flops as she was ‘typecast’ as a distressed teen.
She was famously arrested for drug possession aged 18, and likewise posed nude on the quilt of Playboy 5 years later.
In recent times she has pivoted from appearing to a give attention to her animal rescue – though did reprise her most iconic position within the movie’s 2023 sequel.
So are you able to guess who she is?
A horror film icon who shot to fame in a ‘cursed’ blockbuster which threw her private life into turmoil was seen on a uncommon public outing this week – who’s she?
It is The Exorcist star Linda Blair! The actress, now 66, starred as possessed Regan MacNeil within the iconic 1973 movie aged simply 14.
Blair reduce a low-key determine in a black tee, straw hat and excessive waisted trousers as she wheeled her suitcase at LAX.
The unique film debuted in December 1973, following Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn) as she enlists the assistance of two monks (Max Von Sydow and William O’Malley) to exorcise a demon from her daughter Regan.
William Friedkin (The French Connection) directed the unique, with The Exorcist creator William Peter Blatty writing the screenplay adaptation based mostly on his guide.
Followers who flocked to the sensational movie, have been shocked at scenes that confirmed Blair’s character concerned in horrible violence and profanity.
In a single grotesque second Regan is proven masturbating with a crucifix.
Different scenes present the character’s head-spinning and vomiting over a priest, who was making an attempt to expel the demon from Regan’s physique.
The Exorcist was controversial and subsequently banned or restricted in some nations – and it was even claimed the movie was ‘cursed’ after a mysterious set hearth and mishaps throughout manufacturing.
Friedkin himself stated: ‘We have been stricken by unusual and sinister issues from the start, it’s merely the toughest factor I’ve ever completed in my life.’Â
It is The Exorcist star Linda Blair! The actress, now 66, starred as possessed Regan MacNeil within the iconic 1973 movie aged simply 14
Blair reduce a low-key determine in a black tee, straw hat and excessive waisted trousers as she wheeled her suitcase at LAX
The star regarded relaxed as she touched down in LA
Blair stored a low profile as she headed out of the airport
The star was with a companion as she headed out
The unique film debuted in December 1973, following Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn) as she enlists the assistance of two monks (Max Von Sydow and William O’Malley) to exorcise a demon from her daughter ReganÂ
Blair later reprised her position as Regan within the Exorcist sequel, Exorcist II: The Heretic in 1977 – which was a crucial and business failure
The movie remains to be thought of to be one of many scariest films of all time, incomes $441 million on the field workplace and incomes 10 Oscar nominations, making historical past as the primary horror film ever to earn a Finest Image nomination.
The position earned Blair a Golden Globe for Finest Supporting Actress, and an Academy Award nomination for Finest Supporting Actress.
On the time of the movie’s launch, rumors unfold Blair had been killed off throughout its making.
There have been different tales that the younger star had survived the movie, however had come away psychologically broken after appearing out the demonic possession.
Blair later reprised her position as Regan within the Exorcist sequel, Exorcist II: The Heretic in 1977 – which was a crucial and business failure.
That very same yr aged 18 she was charged with conspiracy to commit a felony within the alleged sale and buy of cocaine.
She pleaded responsible to a decreased cost of conspiracy to own cocaine, in trade for 3 years’ probation.
Blair fractured her backbone whereas thrashing round on a mechanical mattress for the movie – with the harm growing into scoliosis.Â
Blair would by no means attain the heights of her The Exorcist efficiency once more.Â
She made a cameo as a reporter in Wes Craven’s 1996 blockbuster Scream – seen with David Arquette as Dewey
 In 1974 she starred as a runaway teenager struggling sexual abuse in controversial TV movie Born Harmless.
That very same yr aged 15 she dated Australian singer Rick Springfield, who was 25 on the time.
Establishing herself as a Scream Queen, she starred in horror movies together with Stranger in Our Home in 1978, Hell Evening in 1981 and and Grotesque in 1988.
She was nominated for 5 Razzie Awards between 1980-1985.Â
On a visit to Australia in 2013, Linda Blair admitted to the Every day Telegraph that the movies producers had intentionally unfold rumors about her and the film to fire up controversy.
‘There was all this negativity about what I had been by way of, so I started this world press tour,’ she defined.
‘I went out to England and Australia and all around the world to speak concerning the movie and to point out that I used to be high quality.’
In 1982 in an try to interrupt freed from her horror film roots, she posed nude for Playboy.
Earlier than The Exorcist: Believer, her final display screen position was in ghost drama Landfill in 2021 – pictured 2022
In 1996 she made a cameo in Scream and appeared on Broadway the next yr in Grease.
In 2006, she guest-starred on Supernatural, taking part in the a part of Detective Diana Ballard.
In 2010, she appeared as herself on the cable sequence Pit Boss and Jury Responsibility.
Earlier than The Exorcist: Believer, her final display screen position was in ghost drama Landfill in 2021.Â
She reprised her Regan position once more in 2023’s The Exorcist: Believer.
