Steel MagnoliasTurns 35! Daryl Hannah Recalls ‘Supportive’ Costars and Horseback Riding with Julia Roberts (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

(Left-right:) Julia Roberts, Sally Field, Shirley MacLaine, Dolly Parton and Daryl Hannah in 1989.Photo:Aaron Rapoport/Corbis/Getty

Aaron Rapoport/Corbis/Getty

WhenSteel Magnoliasbecame an instant cinema classic 35 years ago, it stood out for being more than just a heartwarming depiction of small-town Southern life. AsDaryl Hannahpoints out, a starry cast made up of primarily women was a rarity at the time.

“It was the first time I’d ever really experienced women,” recalls the actress, 63, of her time starring oppositeJulia Roberts,Sally Field,Dolly Parton,Shirley MacLaineand the lateOlympia Dukakis. “Everyone talks about, now, ‘Women supporting women!’ Well, in my day, it was not like that.”

Speaking to PEOPLE with characteristic frankness, she adds that many “competitive and vicious” women she worked with on films “wanted me to basically die” — untilSteel Magnolias. “It was really wonderful to have those women be so supportive and encouraging. I just never had experienced that before.”

Daryl Hannah and Sally Field in ‘Steel Magnolias’.Zade Rosenthal/Tri-Star/Kobal/Shutterstock

Zade Rosenthal/Tri-Star/Kobal/Shutterstock

“He was like, ‘No, absolutely not, I don’t see it.’ And I said, ‘Please let me,’” says Hannah. Donning her own glasses and fixing her hair to look like the aspiring hairdresser character, she met with Ross about the part. “And he didn’t recognize me,” she recalls. “I love that feeling where you really turn into somebody else.”

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(Left-right:) Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Sally Field, Dolly Parton and Julia Roberts at the ‘Steel Magnolias’ New York City premiere on Nov. 5, 1989.Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty

AfterMystic Pizza,Steel Magnoliaswas one of the first movies Roberts had filmed, notes Hannah. “But she was always a very confident girl. She was very confident about herself. I remember her asking [costar]Sam Shepardto write her something, and I was like, ‘Whoa, that takes balls.’”

The two bonded, adds theSplashstar, at the house Hannah rented while filming. “I took her on a horseback ride and we had a nice time,” she says, adding that she and Roberts were otherwise “pretty intent on focusing on our work.”

Daryl Hannah and Julia Roberts at the ‘Steel Magnolias’ New York City premiere on Nov. 5, 1989.Robin Platzer/Getty

Robin Platzer/Getty

As for the rest of the female leads, Hannah has nothing but praise: “I did love working with those women and had just absolutely adored Dolly and adored Olympia and Shirley as well. They were just so fun and funny and smart.”

Steel Magnoliashad its premiere on Nov. 5, 1989, opening in theaters later that month. Among the accolades it earned was a BAFTA nomination for MacLaine, 90, and an Oscar nomination for Roberts.

source: people.com