You probably remember the prosthetic nose. Or maybe the oversized glasses and the cigarette dangling precariously from Glenn Close’s mouth. Back in 2020, when Netflix dropped Hillbilly Elegy, the world was a different place. JD Vance wasn’t a Vice President; he was a venture capitalist with a bestselling memoir and a story that Hollywood thought was the ultimate Oscar bait.
Glenn Close played Mamaw, Vance's fierce, no-nonsense grandmother. It was a role that earned her an Oscar nomination and a Razzie nomination in the same year. Seriously. People were that divided.
But lately, the conversation has shifted. It’s not about the acting anymore. It’s about the fact that the woman who literally studied Vance’s family to play his "hero" is now one of his most vocal critics.
The Set Visit That Nobody Talks About
When Ron Howard was filming the movie, JD Vance was actually a frequent presence. He wasn't just some distant author. He was an executive producer.
📖 Related: Kim Jee-woon: The Genre-Hopping Director Who Can't Stop Redefining Korean Cinema
Glenn Close has recently opened up about those days. Honestly, she sounds a bit baffled. On a January 2025 episode of The View, Close recalled how Vance visited the set and was incredibly helpful. He wasn't the polarizing political figure we see on news cycles today.
He helped Owen Asztalos—the kid playing young JD—get the mannerisms right. He sat down one-on-one with Glenn and Amy Adams. He talked about his mom's addiction. He talked about Mamaw’s "code." Close says the family was "generous" with their time. They shared home videos. They let her see the raw, unpolished version of their lives.
Then, things changed.
"I Don't Know What Happened"
That's the quote everyone is buzzing about. Close didn't hold back when Joy Behar suggested Vance had a "personality transplant."
"I don't know what happened," Close said. She mentioned that power is the "biggest aphrodisiac for a human being." It’s a pretty heavy statement coming from the person who spent months trying to find the "humanity" in his upbringing.
She isn't the only one feeling the whiplash. Ron Howard has expressed similar disappointment. He’s gone on record saying he was interested in a "survival tale," not a political manifesto. When they were filming in Middletown, Ohio, politics rarely came up.
The Cat Lady Incident
You can't talk about Glenn Close and JD Vance without mentioning the cat.
In August 2024, Vance’s old comments about "childless cat ladies" resurfaced. It went nuclear. Close, who is a very proud dog and cat owner, didn't just post a selfie. She went full Mamaw on Instagram.
She posted a photo with her cat, Eve, with a caption that sounded like something straight out of the movie script. She wrote that Eve would have left a "bleeding mouse head" in the bed of anyone who criticized ladies with cats. It was a clear, sharp jab at the man whose life story she helped tell.
Why the Movie Still Stings for Critics
A lot of people in Appalachia hated the movie from day one. They felt it was "poverty porn."
They argued that JD Vance and the film's portrayal ignored systemic issues—like the loss of manufacturing jobs—and instead blamed the people for their own struggles. One scene in particular stands out: Mamaw tells JD there are three kinds of people: "good Terminators, bad Terminators, and neutral."
It’s a cool line for a movie. But for people living in the Rust Belt, it felt like a gross oversimplification.
The Complicated Legacy of Mamaw
Glenn Close has always defended her performance. She didn't want Mamaw to be a caricature. She played her "down," believe it or not. The real Mamaw was apparently even more intense.
Close spent weeks learning how the real woman sat, how she changed the "chemistry" of a room. She found a "common humanity" with her. It’s why the current rift is so fascinating. Close isn't just an actress who took a job; she’s someone who deeply empathized with the roots of the Vance family.
The Disconnect
Vance's evolution from a "Never Trumper" (which he was back when the book came out) to a MAGA powerhouse has left the Hillbilly Elegy cast in a weird spot.
- Amy Adams has mostly stayed quiet, focusing on the "complexities of love" in the family.
- Ron Howard says we have to "respond to what we're seeing now" and vote.
- Glenn Close has been the most "gloves-off," basically suggesting that the JD she met on set isn't the one running the country.
It's a strange reality where the art is now being used as a weapon against the artist’s subject. People are re-watching the movie not to see a story of triumph, but to look for clues of who Vance was before the political stage.
What You Can Take Away From This
Basically, the Glenn Close and JD Vance saga is a masterclass in how quickly public perception can flip.
If you're looking for the "truth" in Hillbilly Elegy, you have to separate the performance from the politics. Close’s work was about a specific woman in a specific time. Vance’s current career is something else entirely.
If you want to understand the tension, don't just watch the movie. Read the responses from Appalachian authors like Elizabeth Catte. They’ve been warning people about the "Vance narrative" since 2016.
Next Steps to Understand the Context:
- Watch the 2025 interview: Look up Glenn Close’s appearance on The View to hear her tone when she discusses the "aphrodisiac" of power.
- Read "Appalachian Reckoning": This anthology gives a voice to the people who felt Vance's story (and Close's movie) didn't represent them.
- Check out the Instagram post: Search for Glenn Close’s "Eve the cat" post to see how she uses her platform to counter-message her former collaborator.
It’s okay to like the acting and dislike the politics. Or vice versa. Just don't expect a reunion photo anytime soon.