Rebecca Gayheart, like many other actors in Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” was featured in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it scene and nothing more. However, in the case of Gayheart, her character might not have had a lot of screentime but played a vital role in the film, as well as the debate surrounding the plot in the weeks since its release. You see, Gayheart played Cliff Booth’s (Brad Pitt) dead wife, who only appeared in a mysterious flashback that has been dissected by many film fans.
And in a new interview with EW, Gayheart talked about the question that many have regarding her character — how did Cliff Booth’s wife die? The film posits that Booth’s wife passed away during a boating accident. The true cause of death was never known, but many believe that Booth himself was responsible, while others think it was an accident. Gayheart, as well as Pitt, say she knows the truth.
“Obviously we have an answer to that, but I don’t want to spoil it,” Gayheart said. “I think the beauty of that question is that it’s a question that lingers and it colors how you feel about Cliff and the whole movie because is he the good guy that you think he is or isn’t he? And that was intentional.”
While Gayheart believes that Tarantino made the right choice leaving the means of the character’s death ambiguous, the actress feels like there is likely a chance that the true answer about what happened to Cliff Booth’s wife will be revealed eventually. In fact, she hints at more footage that was cut involving Booth and his wife that could be used down the road. You know, probably in that seemingly inevitable Netflix miniseries version of ‘Once Upon a Time.’
“There were lots of other scenes that were shot that didn’t make it in the movie,” she said. “I don’t know if something will be a part of a director’s cut. I tend to believe that that question will be answered at some point.”
There are some folks that would probably rather leave the answer to their own imaginations, while others just want everything spelled out. Either way, Gayheart seems to confirm the long-standing knowledge that Tarantino shot a lot of footage for ‘Once Upon a Time.’ So, even if we don’t get the answer to the Cliff Booth’s wife question, who knows what other secrets hit the cutting room floor?