MovieChat Forums > Single White Female (1992) Discussion > Was Heddy a famous actress?

Was Heddy a famous actress?

posted 20 years ago by ChastityPariah
19 replies | jump to latest

When she goes to the bank at the end to cash her check the girl says, "What part is it this time? Youre an actress right? youre never the same person twice." and Heddy kinda says yes and then goes on to say, "well maybe next time i'll try blonde"

I assume she was probably an actress in NY. Nothing big like braodway but maybe one of the daytime soap operas. That seems to be why the girl recognized her. Who knows though, she couldve also done print work and ads or something.

"It's my industrial strength hairdryer, and i can't LIVE without it!"

[–] MortenPedersen 20 years ago

I just think the clerk recognizes her because she is a regular customer and she sees her often. And as Heddy changes her looks often (in this case, copying Allie's look) the clerk ASSUMES she must be an actress, because actresses often chance the way they look for the specific parts they play.

[–] steelcity_55 20 years ago

I was wondering the same thing. If her name was Hedra Carlson, where did the name Ellen Besh come from (at end of movie). And if her name really was Ellen (like in the newspaper clipping that Allie saw), then yes, why is it that the clerk asked her if she was an actress? I NEVER understood this!

[–] MortenPedersen 20 years ago

Jennifer Jason Leigh's character was really called Ellen B. as is mentioned in the end of the movie, when Allie finds out about her true identity.

Her parents had been looking for her for very long. If she had used her real name, maybe she would have been found. She obviously does not wish to be found. So she used another name, maybe even more than one name, as she moved along.

As for the question in the bank, I still believe my guess posted earlier in this thread is valid.

Also, as an example, I can mention an actor frend of mine, who looks completely different every 4 months or so, simply because he got a new role. Then he dies his hair, or gets a certain hair cut, etc, depending on the role. And in between roles, he simply lets his hair grow, so he'll have more options, when chosing scripts (some roles may require long hair!) I just assumed that Heddy is asked if she is an actress, because the clerk noticed she had just completely changed her look - again.

Just my interpretation, anyway ...

[–] tidegrrrrl76 19 years ago

mortenpeterson-

Yeha- I agree with you-

[–] chancedude 19 years ago

I don't understand how people are confused about this scene...Heddy obviously changes her appearance all of the time so she looks like the person she moves in with, or friend, or whatever. The clerk assumed she was an actress because Heddy changed her appearance all of the time.

How do people not understand this?

[–] ChastityPariah 19 years ago

Oops. I just checked this post after so long. I actually kind of meant it as a joke. Its fairly obvious LOL

my bad, thought it would give someone a chuckle. hehe

"Boy am I a horndog! Is this face taken?"

[–] dcaldero43 19 years ago

So if Helen was her real name, Heddy was the name of her dead Twin, right? That would make sense. Heddy and Helen. Also, the last name Carlson could be the name of a former roomate she killed/replaced. Heh?

[–] ChastityPariah 19 years ago

Her real name was Ellen, not Helen. Ellen Besch.

"Boy am I a horndog! Is this face taken?"

[–] AdventurePatch 19 years ago

I noticed that she signed the form ellen besch. Heddy, was just a name she made up. she wansnt on lease, so basically she could get away with any name. so she told allie that her name was heddy, but all of her bank statements and letters were under the name ellen. and yeah, i agree that the clerk just noticed her frequent change of appearance.

"I'M HEADRA CARELSON."

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Blooeyz2001 18 years ago

The schlub at the cash checking place thought she was an actress because she changed her look often, & actors are a dime a dozen in NYC. Heddy worked at a book store.

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] gg82 16 years ago

I found it creepy that Hedy said maybe next time she'd dye her hair blonde, obviously to match the cashier, and the cashier was flattered. Not that she could have known Hedy's mental problems, but it was freaky to watch that scene. It's like, oh, no, she's already looking for another future roomate to clone herself after!

[–] Goranjake 9 years ago

Huh, that's creepy now that you mention it.

[–] romantic_starlight 16 years ago

For me the question rather has to be: What was Allison's job? Was she an actress or a fashion designer or a business woman? As to Hedra's movie character, I think she worked as a book seller in a book store.

Your question confused me a bit now, can you please help me because it's already some time ago that I watched this movie.

[–] fiatlux-1 14 years ago

For me the question rather has to be: What was Allison's job? Was she an actress or a fashion designer or a business woman?
Allie was a computer programmer.

Yep you're right, Hedra worked in a bookstore. A high-end one, judging by her fancy clothes and hairdo. But what always puzzled me was, rent-stabilized or not how the heck did those ladies afford an apartment like that??!

Heddy's job as a bookstore clerk could not possibly be enough to pay half the rent & utilities could it?

"I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus."
"Didn't he discover America?"
"Penfold, shush."

[–] mrdjx 11 years ago

Allison runs her own software development business, which specializes in producing and selling products to the fashion industry.

[–] RiskyRussian 14 years ago

The thing I always assumed, before I even watched the movie, was that she tried to take over other people's identities for one reason or another and that Hedra was one of her old roommates.

She probably would commit the murders, steal the person's identity that she killed, and move on. She couldn't do it with Allie, though, because she ended up framing Allie for the crime.

HOWEVER: Now that I have actually seen the movie, I see it differently.

Let's assume that Ellen/Hedy went to that clerk at least three times, all using her real name.

1st time: She has her long brown hair.
2nd time: She has Allie's hair
3rd time: Allie's cut, her own color

Since it's easy to assume that this movie probably only took place within a month or two, and women usually don't change their hair THAT often, it's easy for the clerk to make a guess that she might be an actress.

Of course we also see the reason Ellen/Hedy takes on the appearance of Allie is because of her dead twin. She feels empty without a twin. She had probably gone through the same thing with the other girl she mentioned.

I also had assumed she murdered her twin but the ending made me unsure.

[–] mental_hopscotch117 9 years ago

Heddy was no actress. She had borderline personality disorder.