Her Own Woman: Remembering Sondra Locke
When we lost Sondra Locke Nov. 3, we lost a talented and revolutionary woman who wore many hats during a career that spanned nearly 50 years.
Nominated for an Oscar for her inaugural screen appearance (The Heart is a Lonely Hunter in 1968), this Alabama-born marvel boasted a strong screen presence that seemed to belie her delicate, ethereal beauty. And she never shied away from challenging roles, playing everyone from a female Christ figure in The Second Coming of Suzanne to the title legend in Rosie: The Rosemary Clooney Story. And she continued acting while battling the cancer that eventually claimed her life, appearing as recently as 2017 in the movie Ray Meets Helen. And in a leading role.
Beyond the camera, Locke directed four films (including the sensitive, compelling Ratboy, which I saw and loved), wrote one film and produced two. She sang on three soundtracks, and — aside from her Oscar nomination — was nominated for two Golden Globe and two Golden Laurel awards.
In the days since her passing, much mention has been made of Locke’s one time involvement with an actor of some sort; one last seen at an RNC convention for a failed presidential candidate, talking on stage to an empty chair. Oh well, doesn’t matter.
In memorializing Locke, The Wrap’s Brian Welk referred to this gifted film luminary as “an early pioneer for women in Hollywood.”
Now that matters. Rest in Peace, Ms. Sondra Locke.
