Glenn Close revealed who suggested the nude scene in her 2024 film The Summer Book, saying it was her idea to appear unclothed as her character, Grandmother, wanders through a Finnish forest.
In an interview with AARP Movies for Grownups, Close said the moment came from a personal impulse: “It was my idea.” She described the character as one who would go without clothes when no one else was around, noting that Finland’s culture around nudity is more permissive than in the United States. “I thought that’s something she would do when no one else is around. In Finland, they’re much more used to nakedness than we are,” she said. Close added, “I didn't want to put my clothes back on. It felt so good.”
The Summer Book adapts the Finnish author Tove Jansson’s novel, with Close portraying Grandmother, a figure who moves through the forest largely on her own. The film has drawn attention not just for its bold moment but for how it sits within Close’s broader body of work, which has repeatedly pushed boundaries around what is considered permissible for women on screen.
Close’s propensity for provocative roles stretches back decades. In 2019 she filmed a steamy scene for The Wife and spoke to The Guardian about aging and sexuality, saying it is “one of the great myths that you lose your sexuality as you get older. I feel as free and as creative, as sexual and as eager as I ever have.” She added, “And it’s ironic because I’m thinking: ‘How much time do I have left now?’” These comments underscore a career that has long blurred lines between propriety and appetite, from her iconic work in Fatal Attraction to the manipulative allure of Dangerous Liaisons and the subtler explorations in Albert Nobbs.
Outside of her screen work, Close has continued to cultivate new roles that keep her in the public eye. She said she is now a grandmother, after her daughter Annie welcomed a baby, Rory Westaway Albu, in February, sharing that she is “very aware of my role as grandmother. I’m very proud of it, and I love spending time with him.”
On the horizon, Close remains busy with a high-profile project. In November, audiences will see her in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, a star-studded ensemble murder mystery. Daniel Craig reprises his role as detective Benoit Blanc, with a cast that includes Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church. The film positions Close among a group of performers known for blending suspense, wit, and social commentary in contemporary thrillers.
Close has described herself as an introvert who thrives in collaboration with a wide array of actors. She reflected on the Toronto International Film Festival world premiere of The Summer Book earlier this month, saying that while she is reserved off stage, the creative process among a diverse ensemble is “heaven.”