05/02/2026
***Natalie Wood REFUSED to kiss Robert Redford — then cameras caught what really happened***
Nobody on the set of Inside Daisy Clover knew why Natalie Wood kept her distance from Robert Redford. She’d arrive early, leave as soon as her scenes wrapped, never made eye contact during blocking rehearsals. Redford, the unknown actor with three film credits to his name, stayed quiet.
Professional, he didn’t push. The director, Robert Mulligan, was getting worried. The whole film hinged on the chemistry between these two characters, between the established star and the new face. They had one week before the kissing scene. One week to find something real. What Mulligan didn’t know was that Natalie had a reason for keeping her distance.
And when she finally told Redford what it was, everything changed. Summer 1965, Warner Brothers Studios, Burbank, California. Robert Redford was 29 years old and terrified. Not of the role, not of the cameras, of Natalie Wood. She was 27. She’d been famous for 19 years since she was eight. Miracle on 34th Street.
Rebel Without a Cause with James Dean. Westside Story. Splendor in the Grass. Four Oscar nominations before she turned 25. She was Hollywood royalty. The kind of star who could make or break a career with one word to the right producer. Redford had three film credits. War Hunt in 1962, Situation Hopeless but Not Serious earlier this year, and a small part in The Chase that hadn’t been released yet.
Television actors didn’t transition to film easily in 1965. Broadway actors had a better shot and Redford had done Broadway Barefoot in the Park with Elizabeth Ashley. But still, this was different. This was a leading role opposite one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. The film was Inside Daisy Clover, a dark story about a teenage girl who becomes a Hollywood star in the 1930s and marries a closeted gay actor.
Natalie played Daisy. Redford played Wade Lewis, her husband. The script required intimacy, kissing scenes, arguments, the raw vulnerability of a marriage falling apart. The problem started on day one. Natalie arrived at soundstage 9 at 6:00 a.m., 2 hours before call time. Full hair and makeup, professional, ready. Redford arrived at 6:30, still learning to navigate the studio lot.
He was wearing jeans and a work shirt. His blonde hair was uncomed. He looked like he’d just rolled out of bed, which he had. He was staying in a cheap apartment in the valley, trying to save money because he didn’t know if this film would lead to anything else. The costume designer took one look at him inside. We have work to do.
By the time Redford emerged from wardrobe, transformed into Wade Lewis in a 1930s suit, Natalie was already on set rehearsing with Robert Mulligan. Redford stood in the shadows, watching, learning how she moved, how she spoke, how she owned the space. She never once looked at him. Mulligan called for Redford.
Bob, come meet your wife. Redford walked onto the set, extended his hand. Hi, I’m Bob. Natalie glanced at his hand, shook it briefly. Her grip was firm but distant. Natalie. Then she turned back to Mulligan. Should we run the first scene? That was it. No small talk. No, nice to meet you. No, I loved you in barefoot in the park.
Just business. Redford didn’t know what he’d expected, but it wasn’t this. The first week was brutal. They’d rehearse scenes and Natalie would deliver her lines perfectly, technically flawless, but but there was no connection, no chemistry. She’d hit her marks, say her words, and then step back, create physical distance, emotional distance.
During lunch breaks, Natalie ate in her private trailer. Redford ate with the crew. During lighting setups, Natalie would disappear to her dressing room. Redford would sit on an apple box reading the script trying to understand what he was doing wrong because it had to be him. Natalie Wood didn’t have chemistry problems.
She’d had chemistry with James Dean, with Warren Batty, with Steve McQueen. The problem was clearly the unknown actor from Van NY who didn’t belong here. Mulligan pulled Redford aside after the third day. How are you doing? Fine. Redford lied. Natalie’s She’s going through some things, personal things. It’s It’s not you, but it felt like it was him.
The crew started noticing the cinematographer would set up romantic shots, two shots where Natalie and Redford’s faces were close together, and the distance between them was palpable. The script supervisor kept notes. Chemistry feels forced. The producer started making phone calls. Could they recast? Was it too late? Redford heard the whispers.
He’d been in Hollywood long enough to know how it worked. Unknown actors were expendable. Stars were not. If this didn’t work, he’d be gone. Back to television. Back to wondering if he’d ever have a real film career. He thought about Utah, about the land he’d bought near Provo Canyon four years ago. Two acres in the mountains.
No electricity, no running water, just wilderness. Sometimes he’d drive up there between jobs and sit under the aspens. The mountains didn’t care if he was a movie star or a nobody. They just were steady, unchanged. He wished he was there now instead of on this sound stage where Natalie Wood looked through him like he was made of glass.
Week two brought the first real argument scene. Daisy confronting Wade about his lies. It required Natalie to be vulnerable, angry, hurt. It required Redford to be defensive, but guilty. Two people who loved each other, destroying everything they had. Mulligan called action. Natalie delivered her lines. Perfect cadence. perfect emotion.
But she was looking at a point just past Redford’s left shoulder. Not at his eyes, not at him. Redford responded. Stayed professional. Hit his marks. But something inside him was breaking. You can’t act opposite someone who won’t see you. Cut. Mulligan called. Let’s take five. Natalie walked off said immediately. Redford stayed.
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