Anjelica Huston reflects on her bohemian twenties in New York, recalling an era marked by vibrant freedom, creative exploration, and encounters with artists and eccentrics during the bustling years before her rise to acting stardom. Looking back on her youthful adventures ahead of her latest role in the John Wick spinoff, Ballerina, Huston offers vivid memories of her experiences and relationships in the city that shaped her.
A Look Back at 1970s New York City Through Huston’s Eyes
As a young model of Hollywood lineage, Anjelica Huston spent her early twenties drifting through New York in the early 1970s. Her days were filled with fashion shoots and late nights, particularly at the Chelsea Hotel, a notorious gathering place for creative outsiders. The city’s magnetic energy drew her into a whirlwind of excitement and risk, a time she describes as endlessly engaging and mysterious. The sense of possibility and unpredictability characterized the urban experience for Huston; danger and allure coexisted on every corner.
Huston’s connections extended beyond the world of modeling. Her upbringing was unorthodox—her father, a charismatic and extravagant figure, welcomed other icons, such as Peter O’Toole and Marlon Brando, into their home. This environment saturated her formative years with drama and unconventional influence.
Navigating the City’s Dangers and Charms
The appeal of New York for Huston lay partly in its untamed, even foreboding character. She often found herself in situations that wouldn’t be considered safe or ordinary by most standards, particularly in areas near the Chelsea Hotel. The city’s reputation as Gotham—vast, unpredictable, full of danger and possibility—stood in stark contrast to the comparative calm of London, a city she found tamer by comparison.
Despite the hazards, Huston’s time in New York was anything but boring. She thrived on the social dynamism, always meeting new characters and relishing the mysteries that the city held just out of sight.
“There was, particularly down near the Chelsea Hotel, a lot of sketchy behavior. You could meet very interesting people, but also people who had, shall we say, a leg in the wrong place. It wasn’t a place where you’d take your grandmother.”
—Anjelica Huston
“New York felt vast, especially at the time. It was very Gotham, and there was always an element of danger and an element of the unknown. London was quite docile next to it. New York was a bit of a monster.”
—Anjelica Huston
“And I wasn’t bored. There was always something going on. There were always new people and some mystery around the corner. I was always engaged.”
—Anjelica Huston
The Bohemian Allure: Fashion, Art, and Freedom
Fashion was both Huston’s career and her milieu, but she insists it was never her obsession. Instead, she appreciated the artistic freedom and camaraderie among fellow models, considering modeling a form of self-expression rather than a pursuit of fame. The city’s free-spirited subculture encouraged her playful approach to style and identity, fostering lifelong friendships and a sense of liberation.
“I wasn’t bored with modeling. I had a good time and I was always a bit of a show-off, so it suited me well. I had a lot of friends who were modeling as well, and we’d hang out together. It was very freeing.”
—Anjelica Huston
As she encountered influential figures in the art world, such as Dick and Bob, Huston absorbed lessons about perspective and creative seriousness. Working with Dick, who understood her style and maintained a keen awareness of the shifting cultural landscape, proved especially formative. Bob, on the other hand, brought an intensity and gravity that made for a different, equally important education.
“Dick I worked with before anyone. I think he liked my style and had a good gauge for what was going on. So he was always fun to work with. And then Bob was more serious, a bit more dangerous. Between the two of them, I think I got a good education.”
—Anjelica Huston
Despite her proximity to influential designers and artists, Huston remained independently minded, carefully curating her look without succumbing to the pressures of the industry.
“I was never a slave to fashion. I knew what I liked and I knew how I wanted to look, but I wasn’t enamored by it.”
—Anjelica Huston
Personal Relationships and Creative Independence
Relationships in Huston’s world were often intertwined with the creative scene. One notable episode involved being asked by a boyfriend to pose for David Hockney, an offer she found unappealing unless based on the artist’s own interest. Huston’s approach to these situations reflected her integrity and commitment to self-worth, a confidence partly inspired by her upbringing and her father’s guidance. She prized the liberty to choose her companions, activities, and lifestyle, less concerned with pleasing those who didn’t understand her outlook.
“I never made it my business to go after anybody. Much later on, I had a boyfriend who wanted me to pose for David Hockney, and I said, ‘Does David Hockney want to draw me?’ And he said, ‘That’s not really the point. The point is that I’m commissioning David Hockney to draw you.’ I remember being sort of appalled that David Hockney would have to be, not bribed, but paid in order to work with me. I thought, well, if David Hockney wants to work with me, then he’ll work with me. I’m not going to pay him.”
—Anjelica Huston
“I don’t know that there were people who disapproved of me, but there were people who weren’t necessarily on my wavelength or who I wasn’t cut out to please. I liked the idea of being able to do anything I wanted, go anywhere I wanted, hang out with whoever I wanted. Freedom was a big thing for me. I always knew somewhere in my soul that I was right—that whatever I liked or whatever my instinct was, was right. My father instilled that idea in me.”
—Anjelica Huston
She described herself as “unusual” in appearance, but confident in her ability to stand out naturally, never feeling desperate for attention.
“It wasn’t like I was grasping at straws. I was pretty in an unusual way and I could move. There wasn’t a big struggle with being noticed.”
—Anjelica Huston
Finding Identity and Joy in a Changing City
Huston’s approach to fashion and beauty was relaxed and understated, a reflection of the cultural attitudes of her era. Confidence and comfort, rather than perfection, guided her sense of style. During those years, with little obsession over appearance, a touch of makeup and the right attitude signaled self-assurance.
“I was always pretty casual about how I looked. And in those days, we weren’t too obsessed with it. We put on some makeup and went out. If you felt comfortable, that was a big indicator that you were on the right track.”
—Anjelica Huston
She valued companionship, but never felt compelled to be with someone who was not right for her. Relationships were present, but she preferred not to force connections that did not come naturally.
“I think I had what I needed. I wasn’t necessarily with the boyfriend I wanted to be with, but I wasn’t hard-pressed to be with anyone that I wasn’t with.”
—Anjelica Huston
Challenges, Growth, and Contentment
Not every professional experience felt like a natural fit. Certain roles in her early years left Huston feeling out of place, sometimes due to the part itself or her own discomfort at the time. She explained that the emotional response to a role is unique to each actress, and satisfaction is not always guaranteed.
“That was very tough. He was hard on me because he realized early on that I didn’t really want to do it, because I didn’t think the part was for me, and I wasn’t comfortable in my skin. You ask any actress if she’s right for something, she feels good. If she doesn’t, she feels bad. So I still don’t think it was my fault.”
—Anjelica Huston
Reflecting on her happiness during those times, Huston described an ebb and flow of emotions, rarely dwelling long on dissatisfaction. She embraced life as it came, focused on enjoying the moment and bringing joy to those around her.
“I think I was on-and-off happy, like one is. I don’t know that I was overly satisfied with what was going on, but I wasn’t dissatisfied either. I was living pretty much day to day, saying and seeing and doing the things that made me happy, which was a lot of making other people happy.”
—Anjelica Huston
The Enduring Influence of a Bohemian Youth
Anjelica Huston’s stories of her bohemian twenties offer a rare glimpse into a formative time, when New York City’s unpredictability sparked her artistic instincts and shaped her approach to life and career. Her father’s encouragement of her individuality, coupled with the freedom the city provided, allowed Huston to navigate both risk and creativity. As she joins the cast of Ballerina, her journey from those wild New York nights to contemporary film resonates with anyone seeking authenticity and adventure amidst change. The lasting impression of these years highlights the vital role of courage, creativity, and the value of self-knowledge in shaping a purposeful life.
