The 1980s were lean times for Westerns, but the era produced some genuine classics.

Claudia Cardinale became one of Europe’s biggest stars, but when Hollywood offered fame, major roles, and exclusive contracts, she chose independence and built an extraordinary international career instead.

At 22 years old, Dominique Dunne had already landed the kind of movie role that could change an actress’s career. Poltergeist had become one of 1982’s biggest hits, and Dunne was already working on her next project. Then, one Saturday night, someone showed up at her door.

The 1980s loved a good “based on a true story” movie, even when Hollywood took plenty of liberties with the truth. But behind the famous performances were real people whose lives were often even more unbelievable than the versions audiences saw onscreen.

Hollywood careers usually take years to build, but sometimes the right movie changes everything almost overnight. Throughout the 1980s, actresses who had been working in television, modeling, commercials, or smaller film roles suddenly found themselves famous after one unforgettable performance. Others were already known, but one movie pushed them into an entirely different league. For these stars, audiences could practically watch their careers transform in real time.