Virginia Madsen on Dune - Casting

[@shawnn7502]

Her beauty in the intro to Dune will be immortal. As long as there is cinema, that image will be remembered.

[@maxcardun]

Unless you're watching the Extended Cut.

[@NEWTJEZABEL]

My dune iam laura Paul a

[@Ojja78]

I remember seeing her in Dune when I was a kid and being is AWE of her beauty. She really was the essence of an Emperor's daughter. She was shockingly beautiful in Dune.

[@HariSeldon913]

Since she mentioned it, I'd love to see her as a ZZ-Top girl.

[@germanicelt]

I had a crush on her in Electric Dreams when I was 11.

[@christianealshut1123]

She was perfect as Irulan - and I am glad she got the part and not Helena Bonham-Carter. Not that I dislike Helena, but I have read the book and I know that Irulan is supposed to be blonde, so she looks as Irulan is supposed to look; certainly more than Julie Cox was. I just regret that she was seen so little, and that in the long prologue they used Freddie Jones's voice instead of hers - it should have been her, as Irulan is also portrayed as an historian in the first three books of the series. I just hope Denis Villeneuve finds a good Irulan when he includes her in the second part of his Dune movie (if that ever gets to be made). Clemence Poesy (Fleur from Harry Potter) or Florence Pugh (Amy from Little Women) would be real good candidates for that role.

[@swifty1969]

@@germanicelt that was another very enjoyable and fun movie.

[@casualmma]

@@christianealshut1123 unfortunately Pugh is no match for Madsen.

[@planetrift]

She really was (and still is) very very beautiful.

[@andressorribes5652]

Indeed :D

[@chile_en_nogada2090]

I love her voice

[@chile_en_nogada2090]

@CHIGGS 58TH in some other timeline

[@grayman735]

Yes 🤗

[@natnut2008]

@CHIGGS 58TH Because she never took the hint from Lynch's assessment of her visual strengths. Lynch called her "Classic" looking ie she had a timeless look that would go well with period movies where she could have played royalty or nobility but all her subsequent movie roles were set in modern times.

[@Jean-LucPicard85]

I had no idea it was supposed to be a trilogy, I just want to cry now.

[@TheSanien]

Yeah that really sucked but maybe because the effects sucked compared to Star Wars at the time?

[@hypnometal]

Yeah, this is the first I heard about a trilogy, too! I guess the first one didn't perform as well as they had expected, so they 86ed the sequels.

[@EthelredHardrede-nz8yv]

Its OK they didn't do the next two books. The second is not good and the third is BAD. I call it God Awful Emperor of Dune. Oddly enough the next books are at least good. I only read them because a friend said it got better after God Awful.

[@cptant7610]

@@EthelredHardrede-nz8yv God Emperor is book 4, you are missing a book somewhere.

[@EthelredHardrede-nz8yv]

@@cptant7610 OK yeah I was missing one. Might be because I read the first book as the series in Analog. Or I just didn't want to remember the second book.

[@PixPunxel]

I think that monologue, is one of most epic monologues ever done in cinema... "The beginning is a very delicate time" ... epic

[@GregOrCreg]

I like when she fades out and then says "Oh, and I forgot to mention..." and reappears.

[@PixPunxel]

@@GregOrCreg Absolutely, masterpiece

[@remyazharyyosef1811]

Madsen was a perfect Princess Irulan. She's gorgeous and regal. Fit in nicely for the role.

[@Ycekhold]

Indeed. She could have read the back of a box of mac 'n cheese, and succeeded in making that sound compelling. "Sodium chloride....also known as salt." "Drain, but do not rinse. Add powdered cheese, one-quarter cup milk, and four tablespoons butter; mix thoroughly." "THE MACARONI MUST FLOW."

[@Highinsight7]

Couldn't agree more.... Her introduction in the movie was FIRST CLASS!

[@jeffk1722]

Yeah it's a shame they kept making re-edits, and some versions don't even have her intro.

[@tombennett3827]

I think Roseanne Barr would have been better casting for that role.

[@zannaifacedancer5915]

She was the best, however I'am both surprised and scandalized that she did not know anything about her character. It seems a lack of respect to the work of the rest of the cast. Just like Irulan, she was so sure that she did not improve her Bene Gesserit skills.

[@jflow5601]

The opening scene of Lynch's Dune was jaw dropping and set the stage for the rest of the film. It was amazing.

[@LuciFeric137]

Loved your performance Ms. Madsen. The extended cut even better.

[@harmoniousthreads]

God, I love her. I grew up in the 80s and hands down, her role in Electric Dreams made me so happy. She was then and still is now one of the most beautiful women I've ever laid my eyes upon. Cut to soooo many years later, and her role in Sideways blows me away. Also one of my favorite movies (as is ED), the one scene between her and Paul G. when they are discussing her love for wine and life of the grapes... that dialogue is so thick with metaphor and so deep and beautiful, both how it is written and how she delivers it... that I break down crying everytime I see it. The pain in his eyes along with the longing and the hope he feels so briefly as they connect through her probing words is palpable. To take both of those great actors and put them together in such a tender and intense moment is probably one of my favorite things to ever happen in a film.

[@rickeykim1198]

One of my favorite movies and that was an amazing scene.

[@keithroy7884]

I habe always liked her a lot, not just for her beauty and acting, but she has always seemed very real and natural in her conversations and interviews.

[@OpenGL4ever]

This role in this movie made her immortal. Even in 1000 years, they will still watch this movie and see her.

[@andreasv9472]

No

[@johnharding9777]

Watching the extended opening sequence is a little slice of heaven.

[@canvoodoo]

She has aged well

[@Sennmut]

Hot babe.

[@largol33t1]

Does this woman even AGE normally? She looks like she's barely 40-something!

[@Jevaughn]

What aging? Just. Wow.

[@greypilgrim2028]

Consuming large quantities of spice will do that.

[@zazenboy]

The spice extends life

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

She's like a fine wine. Even finer ^_^ And she was PERFECT as Princess Irulan. When i read the books now and read the Poetry of Princess Irulan i always read them with her Voice in my mind. It really makes you listen closely as she carries this elegance with it so marvelously. Everyone in the Lynch's Dune was just perfectly handpicked for their roles. They all look and sound just like the characters from the Book.

[@GregOrCreg]

The casting definitely wasn't one of the film's problems.

[@natnut2008]

David Lynch has a great eye for pinpointing the strengths of an actor's visuals : "Classic" was what he called Virginia Madsen. I agree. Virgina Madsen has a timeless look that was best served in Dune. She should have continued to play roles as a royal or a noblewoman in her future movie roles and would have found even greater success than she has now.

[@GregOrCreg]

Spot on. She has played a few other wealthy/blue-blood roles, but she should have played more, especially in period pieces and fantasy films.

[@jb111082]

WOW! Irulan has aged like fine wine!

[@stevenjones6780]

seen her in 'Sideways'?

[@jb111082]

@@stevenjones6780 Never seen that movie.

[@stevenjones6780]

@@jb111082 Folks say what they will, but it is a "steampunk visual extravaganza" way ahead of it's time. Unfortunately, it seems only for rent at this time....

[@meissnerflux]

She absolutely blew me away when I first saw her in opening scene

[@mmille10]

Gosh. From listening to her casting experience, and Patrick Stewart's, it sounds chaotic, rather like the movie's editing. Some movie critic summed up the Dune movie well for me, "It was a mess, but it was a beautiful mess."

[@comicbookninja5268]

That was the frustrating thing about that movie. The revisions from the book were frustrating but the look and especially the feel of the film was spot on to the book.

[@seaninness334]

@@comicbookninja5268 The adaptation from the book had to deal with so much inner dialogue, it was tough to translate to a movie. Lynch gave it a hell of shot. I'm not sure if it could have survived a trilogy. The first book, and where they chose to end the movie, has a beginning, middle and end. Then the story becomes widely depressing. Paul is blinded and wonders into the desert, Alia goes insane, etc.

[@ForViewingOnly]

I was always spellbound by the beautiful face that appears in the opening minutes of Dune. I think I've paused that scene every time I've watched it because she was the image of perfect female beauty... and wow, it seems she is still stunning to this day!

[@ThePromisedWLAN]

The mistake they made was attempting to create a trilogy out of the existing books instead of breaking up the first book into three parts.

[@jgoodman75]

Agreed. They made it too hard.

[@GregOrCreg]

I love David Lynch's description of Virginia: a 'classic look'. Spot on!

[@GregOrCreg]

Virginia Madsen was the perfect person to play The Princess of the Universe back in 1984. I'm pleased Helena Bonham-Carter didn't get the job (besides, she was great in A Room with a View).

[@MrManerd]

Even with its bad dialogue, bad portrayal of Vlad Harkonin and that god awefull addition of the Weirding Module, it was still one of the best movies ever made.

[@swifty1969]

the weirding module was an incredibly original addition. What bad dialogue? to me Dune is perfect.

[@joeskis]

MrManerd the weirding module is what I love about this version. I saw the movie first. When I read the book I was so disappointed that the weirding is just a burst of super reflexes.

[@leelindemann]

I agree with the other two commentators. I thought it was a fantastic addition. I too love the books but have never understood the hate that the film gets from dune "fans".

[@nickparsons337]

Robert Dykes Agreed man. I love the fact that Lynch used the book as his main source of dialog. Ironically, however; is that seems to have played a large role in the films lack of commercial success

[@rdecredico]

No, it is not.

[@davedogge2280]

When she said that she was signed up for 3 Dune movies, it really digged deep in my craw. Damn it should have made the other 2.

[@cokoladkacz347]

most underrated book/film IMHO :(, but she is sooo classy :) !

[@distranthegloriouslydeform9259]

cokoladka cz the book isnt underated, its the best selling and most celebrated science fiction book of all time.

[@balrogz5093]

I still listen to the music

[@morgezorge6387]

Princess Irulan is such a great character in the books and she becomes really interesting, i had a big crush as a kid on Virginia as princess Irulan, i thought she looked like the princess from Neverending story.

[@hypnometal]

I love that reaction when she talks about "Sting in a jock strap." :-D

[@bujmoose3992]

I still loved Julie Cox as Irulan in the 2 mini-series. Although not necessarily by-the-book, the first mini-series fleshed out her character and Cox played her very well.

[@meryatathagres1998]

Virginia will always be my first huge crush. I went to see Dune so many times that my parents were pissed to escort me yet again. I was a kid and she was my princess, even more than Leia. Irulan is so insanely pretty.

[@kev3d]

I met her once in passing in Marina Del Rey. As she was a friend of a colleague by whom I was accompanied, she said hi to him and I was introduced. She could not have been nicer or warmer.

[@vardellsfolly5200]

What a GORGEOUS woman!!!

[@treadstone1138]

As soon as he made the Dune joke at the start of the clip, she should have looked at him and just went, "Really, Brownie from Willow? You're giving me shit??" LOL. Total mic drop.

[@stevenernest2459]

I recommend the 1984 Sci-Fi Romantic Comedy, "Electric Dreams," with Madsen. The same year as Lynch's Dune.

[@dfangirl72]

electric dreams was good and elo music 🎶🎼

[@StevenErnest]

@@dfangirl72 Yes, the ELO music was fun. ^_^

[@ScottVSpiroIII]

I feel older! I loved her as Helen Lyle in "Candyman." Scared me to death.

[@zinki120]

Dune = "Star Wars for grown-ups." I wished that happened way before this current trend of "nonsensical woke" films that are coming out of Hollywood.

[@VenturiLife]

Meesa agree with you Ani!!

[@plasticweapon]

it did. david lynch made it happen.

[@Trazynn]

Denis Villeneuve is making the next Dune and he also said he was aiming for 'Star War for grownups' in an interview. I bet he's watching this channel.

[@AleksandrPodyachev]

you mean Star Wars for intellectuals

[@zannaifacedancer5915]

I trust Villeneuve very much but that comment was a bit unfortunate considering that many Dune fans are too annoyed because of George Lucas stuff.

[@whynottalklikeapirat]

Virginia Madsen is like the product of what you'd have if Sharon Stone, Marylin Monroe and Madonna ran into each other a extreme velocity and somehow merged into one perfect being ...

[@itan96]

Live out Madonna, please...

[@zannaifacedancer5915]

You know, the breeding programe of the Bene Gesserit.

[@MrDredd1966]

Damn, she's still hot!!😯😍

[@ndowroccus4168]

She was mesmerizing looking into the camera..

[@dondragmer2412]

Her laugh here is mesmerizing too.

[@Acer1899]

for those who dont know, her brother is no other than Michael Madsen

[@dfangirl72]

sadly he doesn't get the good parts he should .I was surprised when I found out he was her brother .

[@scottyben191]

Beautiful then and still beautiful now. That dune intro gave me chills..

[@zmani4379]

I think of her as most famous for Dune and Candyman - and in both she goes into a trancelike state that also hypnotizes the audience - sort of like Kim Novak's Madeline in Vertigo - interesting how funny and gregarious she seems in person - she's well used in those films, but her best role that I know of is in Sideways, where she's given a chance to show much more of her range -

[@WintersArcher]

IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A TRILOGY??? omg damn you Hollywood and critics..damn you to Hell.....

[@BarbikaPahor]

there are more than 3 books actually. and not critics... there just was not enough profit... probably actually a loss

[@Bruno-hd9qo]

BarbikaPahor Huge loss in fact

[@shesgotacause]

At the same time I'm glad it didn't happen though because everyone that acted in the movie was great. Jurgen Prochnow, Kyle MacLachlan, Francesca Annis

[@wizards001]

There's about 12 or 15 books, I think 7 or 8 in the original trilogy, his son and Brian Anderson did a whole slew of prequels

[@wizards001]

@Rodzilla I read them all. They are good time passers, I like the butlerian jihad

[@chad8519]

Would be neat to bring her back in a cameo role ( like a Bene Gesserit sister) Villeneuve's Dune. She's still very beautiful!

[@epcotman32]

She had a great resemblance to Padme Amidala.

[@kamuelalee]

Love Virginia in every film she's ever been in. Great actress and a real beauty too.

[@samanthab1923]

Always so breathtaking. From the start. Saw her in Mr North directed by her husband to be Danny Huston. Her bro is Michael Madsen

[@chrisgriffith1573]

When was Kevin Pollak's Chat Show filmed?

[@Highinsight7]

Virginia... was SOOO friggin HOT in that movie... and her opening... was CLASSIC!!!

[@KevinMuller5]

I first saw Virgina in "Candyman" when I was 9 years old. I thought she was a very beautiful. Then when I was about 21, she was in "Sideways," and I was attracted to both her beauty, she still had it, and emotional depth she gave Maya.

[@eustacequinlank7418]

Before the film was cut up and Lynch became disillusioned, he was writing Dune Messiah off his own back from what I've read. He was quite into it and what would come next. I loved this film growing up, it affected me in a different way than Star Wars, more ethereal, exotic and strange. I wanted the Dune figures as much as the Star Wars ones I'd see them (I had Paul only though) Though it was a film not really made for kids, but it sparked my imagination and moved me onto the books. A flawed gem. If you can find it, I recommend the three hour 10GB fanedit 'Third Stage Edition' (removes all the bullshit from the TV version as well as including other things) I don't know of its availability though. I 'seeded' it for several years before that particular PC went kaput. It's on an old hard drive in a cupboard somewhere. Pretty much the best version I've seen of it. I am looking forward to what Denis Villeneuve will bring to Dune though.

[@FabulousFab72]

Even with all the flaws in Lynch's Dune, this intro (as expositary as it is) is still so memorable, and Madsen's beauty unforgettable.

[@scottwillie6389]

Lynch did a masterful job casting Dune. Even the one quibble you might make with regards to the Piter de Vries character's casting makes sense in the context of what Lynch was doing with Sting and Feyd and how you wouldn't want to overdo that whole thing.

[@blueshit199]

this movie is 40 years old, how is she still so gorgeous?

[@bathoryaria4127]

I still think she did an outstanding Irulan.

[@monsieurcommissaire1628]

Thank God Helena Bonham Carter was unavailable at the time. Virginia Madsen embodied the mysterious and beautiful Princess Irulan like no other has been or ever will be able to. Her opening monologue remains mesmerising, and her beauty is otherworldly. I love David Lynch's "Dune", and it must be said that in capturing Virginia Madsen on film in that moment in time, Mr. Lynch performed a great service to humanity that completely justifies every dollar and every minute spent on the production.

[@Paul_Wetor]

Everybody writes here about her beauty, but her voice during the intro to _Dune_ is exceedingly pleasant.

[@Paccyd33]

i can't believe people genuinely prefer the crappy extended version prologue. one is this cool atmospheric intro voiced by a character that's actually in the movie and one is this crappy generic american voiceover that explains literally everything even if it doesn't affect the plot, over still concept art.

[@basehead617]

I love KPCS because he never sleazes on the actresses.. very respectful

[@GAFB1122]

She was and still is stunning! ❤

[@cavalleri]

Is it me or does Kevin Pollack come off as creepy?

[@nagash303]

i like how she describes her She-Ra outfit.

[@Gladiator0719]

Shes delicious and a great sense of humor

[@DimitriYar]

Virginia´s intro (monolouge) to the dune movie was, is and everwillbe the best monolouge of all time ?

[@doctortrouserpants1387]

there could have been a David Lynch directed Dune 2 and Dune 3? I'd give anything to see those movies!

[@amyturner6821]

I had a mad crush on Sean Young in the movie, but Virginia's Princess Irulan was the visually spectacular one.

[@biscuitninja]

She is/was beautiful in the role

[@zannaifacedancer5915]

Sean Young made Chani look like nothing but the pretty girlfriend of the superhero. Shameful.

[@miguelpereira9859]

@@zannaifacedancer5915 Lady Jessica also sucked in this movie

[@zannaifacedancer5915]

LOL you're spying on me? I'm supposed to be the one who should do it and replace you. (Nerd joke). I have said that several times. Jessica is one of my favorite characters in the whole Dune series and despite her beauty, Francesca Annis ruined her.

[@christianealshut1123]

Yeah, Sean Young is really crazy...She seems to have wanted the role of Catwoman in the second Batman movie very badly; so once she accosted Tim Burton and Michael Keaton dressed up as Catwoman in order to convince them she was the woman for the part (so it says in the Trivia section of her IMDB page at least).

[@ask4kobebeef]

Man they should have made the other two parts!!!! urghhhh!!!!! Also where are all the cut scenes? I wanna see them. arghhhhhh

[@shrimboy7492]

That was my fav part of Lynch's movie.. Princess Irulan intro...

[@GregOrCreg]

"Sting was running around in a gold jockstrap" So, pretty much a normal day for Sting then.

[@antoniodorado4878]

still beautiful

[@Bruno-hd9qo]

She might be the Queen of the Universe by now

[@distranthegloriouslydeform9259]

Bruno van Simon muad'dib did cease the throne by marrige to irulan, but she was no empress. Paul, out of love for chani, refused to conceive with irulan; a bene gesserit. Her biggest role in the books is a historian.

[@BlackBugDefiance]

A beginning is a very delicate time.

[@mikespangler98]

She should have done all the narration in the film, just as Irulan did in the book. The version I saw had a male narrator. I did see a different version where she did do the initial opening. She has a fine voice.

[@Langkowski]

You mean the 2000 SyFy version? That adaptation is nothing but a glorified school play.

[@mikespangler98]

@@Langkowski The "Allan Smithee" recut is what come on the Netflix DVD.

[@bloodsling]

has she aged at all? She looks late 20's..yowza!

[@maxwellwellmax878]

Glad to see my Like bumped it to 1k!.

[@randywarren7101]

I loved her performance in Highlander 2" as the leader of the rebels.

[@1Blastarr]

Thank God! Virginia Madsen got the role.

[@zabaleta66]

She is still beautiful!

[@jamest7500]

beautiful woman

[@manuelitos55]

As an extra in this film 8 (Mexico City 1983), I remember her , one of the most beautiful woman .....

[@largol33t1]

Is it true that the movie was delayed for 5 days because of "Montezuma's revenge"?

[@BoKnowsBrains]

good lord Kevin has a quick draw wit. the man is fast.

[@nerva-]

Wow, I didn't realize they actually signed the actors to three-movie deals. I was always puzzled why they even bothered to include her given how few lines she had - now it makes sense they were just establishing her for the planned sequels.

[@kbheath76]

This movie dune is my favorite, I saw it when I was a kid. Way better than the series.

[@carcillian]

Star Wars for grown-ups...that burn never gets old.

[@TypOPositiv]

She is so beautiful! At any age, she could win the heart of any man OR woman.

[@robertwalsh5461]

Yea, she actually did the opening monologue extremely well and it didn’t hurt anything that she was SO SMOKING HOT either!!!😍

[@remyazharyyosef1811]

Well, she does have that "clsssic look" (as I see it anyway). And she's beautiful.

[@user-ps55619]

Virginia does have a classic look. I agree. Lynch was on the money! She's a 👸 👑

[@VenturiLife]

"Sting running around in a gold jock-strap!!" ... LOL

[@baraka99]

Princess Irulan. Beautiful.

[@Strideo1]

Born to be Kings! Princess of the Universe! Fighting and free! Got your world in my hand! I'm here for your love and I'll make my stand! We were born to be Princess of the Universe! Wait, isn't that how the song goes?

[@BobbyLCollins]

Had she read the book before taking the role, she would have probably negotiated for more lines and a much bigger salary, since her character is literally one of the most important characters in the source material. Then on the flip side, Liv Tyler's role in the Lord of the Rings should have literally been one or two lines of dialogue tops, but they made her a central figure throughout. Hollywood is weird.

[@pferreira1983]

They could make a sequel based on the sequel books easily.

[@rpimjada1549]

I thought Electric Dreams was her first movie. Virginia Madsen was great in Dune. And in Designated Survivor. Aged well.

[@GregOrCreg]

Virginia's first movie was Class. But that was only a small cameo (and she doesn't like to talk about that film). Like she says, prior to Dune, she'd made a couple of films in Chicago, her home town.

[@lowe-quay-shush]

Imagine the original cast (at the same age) in the two newer Dune Films. Wow

[@williamblakehall2773]

Why do I keep imagining her with Gillian Anderson?

[@The333]

Loved her as Irulan

[@dougarr]

damn. she is flawless !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@GordiansKnotHere]

Virginia Madsen is a Goddess.

[@lordllewellynofdarkdelight2613]

My god Virginia Madsen is a beautiful woman.

[@gsr4535]

I wonder when this was recorded? Anyone know?

[@DuneInfo]

The show it is taken from (Kevin Pollak's Chat Show #129) was released October 3, 2011.

[@gsr4535]

DuneInfo Thank you!