Where are the iconic femme fatales of the 80s now?

The woman who coined the term “bunny boiler” was the ultimate femme fatale back in her golden era when she took on the role of Alex Forrester in the 1987 cult classic, Fatal Attraction. 

Spending almost two hours vehemently vying for the attention of Michael Douglas, Glenn’s character became a cultural icon who would translate across the decades and redefine a female trope. 

Still enjoying a career in Hollywood, the now 79-year-old recently joined the likes of Kim Kardashian and Naomi Watts in Ryan Murphy’s latest project for Disney+, All’s Fair.

As Matty Walker in 1981’s Body Heat, Kathleen Turner cemented herself as one of the decade’s most seductive, manipulative on-screen femme fatales. 

In the film, her character uses her intelligence and sexuality to encapture a lawyer, played by William Hurt, and convince him to murder her husband for her in order to benefit financially.  

Her iconic performance led to an illustrious career in voice acting, with credits that include 2025’s Animal Farm adaptation, The Bystanders and Monster House. The 71-year-old makes rare red carpet appearances and speaks regularly about her rheumatoid arthritis, which she has managed since her late 30s. 

Manipulating, marrying and murdering wealthy men for money was Theresa Russell’s character, Catharine Petersen’s modus operandi in Black Widow, which debuted in 1987. 

Embodying the chameleon that was Catharine, Theresa catapulted herself to femme fatale fame and her work on-screen showed off a cunning side to a woman that was new for her generation. 

At 69 years old, she is still well known for Black Widow, but has since starred in Wild Things and The Believer. In the 2000s, she took a step back from acting and opted instead for a quieter life, occasionally appearing at film festivals and other events. 

Ellen Barkin’s Helen Cruger was a classic neo-noir femme fatale when she appeared on screen for the first time in 1989’s Sea of Love. 

The mysterious and dangerous woman lured Al Pacino’s character, a detective, into a volatile romance while simultaneously being the prime suspect in a series of serial killings. 

Enjoying her life in New York City, Ellen is still a working actress and most recently starred in Netflix’s The Out-Laws. Away from the screen, Ellen has also won a Tony Award for her performance in 2011’s The Normal Heart.

Taking over the male-dominated mafia world, Anjelica Huston’s Maerose Prizzi in 1985’s Prizzi’s Honor was considered a modern take on the femme fatale archetype because of her intelligence and intense emotional maneuvering. 

Going down in history for her allusive, vengeful character, Anjelica’s sinister performance won her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. 

She is now 73 years old and has continued to act since her days as a femme fatale, starring in the BBC/BritBox series Agatha Christie’s Towards Zero and reprising her role as The Director in Ballerina. 

Anjelica recently revealed she is four years cancer-free and lives a more low-key life at her California ranch. 

Sean Young’s character Rachael in 1982’s Blade Runner was a classic femme fatale for her “lethal woman” energy and her use of her undeniable beauty and intentional vulnerability to captivate Harrison Ford’s Deckard.

Her iconic look was designed by Ridley Scott and featured sharp shoulder pads, dark lipstick, and elegant, smoky makeup. 

She now lives in Austin, Texas, and continues to star in independent, sci-fi, and horror films, such as The Dummy Detective and Wasp Woman: Murder of a B-Movie Star.