Was Guy Maddin's only choice for the role of "Amelia Glahn" in Twilight of the Ice Nymphs (1997).
Was discovered in 1970 by Brian McKay and Tommy Thompson, who spotted her at a party while scouting locations for Robert Altman's Brewster McCloud (1970) in Houston, Texas. At the time, she was majoring in nutrition and diet therapy at South Texas Junior College and working as a cosmetics salesperson at a Foley's department store. Although she had no prior acting experience, she was casted by Altman in the film and won a three-picture contract with MGM for her performance.
Was in France, attending the 1977 Cannes Film Festival, when she heard she'd gotten the role of Wendy Torrence in The Shining (1980).
Was inducted into the Video Hall of Fame in December 1985 as an innovator in video programming.
Was intended to star opposite Paul Simon in One Trick Pony (1980), which Simon wrote as a vehicle for the two of them while they were in a relationship during the late '70s. However, after their split and Duvall's departure for England to film The Shining (1980), Simon made the film with Blair Brown.
Was romantically involved with Paul Simon from 1976 to 1979. He was the one to tell her she had won Best Actress at the 1977 Cannes Film Festival for her performance in Robert Altman's 3 Women (1977). He broke up with her at the airport as she was about to board a plane to London to begin filming The Shining (1980).
Was the only performer of the '70s to work with three of the decade's most revered directors, Robert Altman, Woody Allen, and Stanley Kubrick.