BEHIND the LENS

The extraordinary stories of the late Hollywood photographer Douglas Kirkland, as told by his wife and the love of his life, Françoise Kirkland

- BREE PLAYER & HARRIET SIM

1971

ANN-MARGRET 

"This photograph was taken in Las Vegas, where Ann-Margret was filming a television series. In those days, a photographer would spend two or three weeks with the subject and capture them in one place and then somewhere else. Over the course of these few weeks, she mentioned she had this bike and Douglas said he would love to shoot her riding it, so she had a truck bring it to Vegas from Los Angeles. I was driving the convertible while Douglas lay across the back to get the shot. I knew I'd have my head chopped off if I didn't drive properly! When Douglas called out to Ann-Margret and said, "We've got the shot," she went, "Weeeee" and kicked her legs out. That ended up being 'the shot'."

1966

AUDREY HEPBURN

"The wonderful story behind this photograph of Audrey is that it's how I met Douglas. Audrey was working on a film called How to Steal a Million with Peter O'Toole in Paris. My mother was the publicist on that film, and Douglas was commissioned for the special shoot. He came into my mother's office when I was visiting and was so jetlagged he fell asleep. As I watched him sleep, I thought, 'He's drop dead gorgeous'. When he woke up, he stretched, rubbed his eyes and then said, 'Would you like to go out to dinner?' I went and I fell madly in love with him. This beautiful portrait of Audrey will always remind me of that moment. And Audrey was always one of Douglas' favourites to shoot. She was so unaffected by fame and always so gracious and elegant."

1980

CARRIE FISHER