Michael Douglas Recalls Fatal Attraction Snub, Argues Glenn Close Deserved the Oscar Over Cher
Nearly forty years after their hit thriller released, Michael Douglas defended his co-star Glenn Close on The Graham Norton Show, asserting she should have won the Academy Award instead of Cher.
Published 3 November 2026
A Decades-Old Grievance Revisited
Michael Douglas continues to harbor strong opinions regarding the 1988 Academy Awards, nearly forty years after the event took place. The acclaimed actor appeared alongside his former co-star on a recent episode of The Graham Norton Show, where the conversation steered toward the prestigious accolades that have eluded his fellow cast member throughout her celebrated career.
Reflecting on their iconic 1987 thriller and romance project, Douglas firmly stated that his on-screen partner's riveting portrayal of the character Alex Forrest should have secured her the coveted trophy. The actor made it clear that, in his view, the performance remains one of the most glaring oversights in Oscar history.
The 1988 Best Actress Race
During the late-night talk show appearance, Douglas detailed how his co-star received her very first Academy Award nomination in 1988 for her work in the tense drama. However, the golden statuette ultimately went to Cher for her vibrant performance as Loretta Castorini in the romantic comedy Moonstruck.
When host Graham Norton expressed surprise at the outcome, Douglas noted that it mirrored the exact reaction shared by the film's cast and crew at the time. The audience responded with laughter as the actor recalled the collective astonishment over the historic category loss.
Cher's Sole Academy Award Win
The victory for Moonstruck remains the only competitive Academy Award win in Cher's career, though the multi-talented entertainer also earned a previous nomination for Best Supporting Actress in the 1983 film Silkwood.
Despite her enduring cultural legacy in both music and film, that single win stands apart from the staggering number of times her fellow nominee has been recognized by the Academy without ultimately taking home the prize.
Glenn Close's Historic Nomination Record
While Cher holds a single competitive victory, the star of the 1987 thriller has faced a notably different trajectory with the Academy. She has accumulated a remarkable eight nominations throughout her illustrious career, yet has consistently missed out on winning the competitive trophy.
This long-standing pattern of recognition without a win has frequently been discussed by film critics and fans alike as one of the most prominent anomalies in Hollywood award history.
An Upcoming Honorary Oscar
The prolonged drought for the veteran actress is finally reaching a celebratory conclusion. The Academy announced that the acclaimed performer is scheduled to receive an Honorary Academy Award at the organization's upcoming 17th Governors Awards event.
The Academy released a statement praising her extraordinary body of work and unparalleled emotional range, which has brought some of the most complex characters in cinematic history to life.
Fellow Honorary Award Recipients
The prestigious honorary accolade will not be presented to her alone during the upcoming ceremony. Several other prominent figures in the motion picture industry are also slated to receive the lifetime achievement honor alongside her.
Animator Floyd Norman, director Ridley Scott, and producers Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler join the esteemed list of honorees for their exceptional contributions to the arts and sciences of cinema.
Recent Revelations From Michael Douglas
The commentary about the 1988 awards race is not the only recent headline-generating statement made by Douglas. The actor recently opened up about a long-kept Hollywood secret in his newly published memoir titled One Helluva Ride.
In the book, he admitted to a past romantic involvement with actress Kathleen Turner during the production of their adventure film Romancing the Stone while filming on location in Mexico. Although the romance had long been whispered about as one of the worst-kept secrets in the industry, both stars had previously denied the reports in interviews.
News Overview
Michael Douglas recently voiced his opinion on The Graham Norton Show that Glenn Close should have won an Oscar for Fatal Attraction instead of Cher. Close, who has been nominated eight times without a competitive win, is set to receive an Honorary Academy Award in November.
Key facts
- Michael Douglas starred alongside Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction in 1987.
- Glenn Close has been nominated for eight Academy Awards.
- Cher won an Academy Award for Moonstruck in 1988.
- Cher was previously nominated for Best Supporting Actress in Silkwood in 1983.
- Glenn Close is set to receive an Honorary Academy Award on November 15 at the 17th Governors Awards.
- Other recipients of the honorary award include Floyd Norman, Ridley Scott, Christine Vachon, and Pamela Koffler.
- Michael Douglas revealed in his memoir, One Helluva Ride, that he and Kathleen Turner were romantically involved during the filming of Romancing the Stone.