Last Living ‘Sunset Boulevard’ Star Reflects on Leaving Hollywood

When it comes to classic American movies, “Sunset Boulevard” has an enduring legacy. This is partly the case thanks to the title’s success as a Broadway musical, a feat that arrived decades after the movie’s premiere. Now, the last remaining star from the 1950 film, Nancy Olson, is opening up about why she quit acting. 

Olson was a 21-year-old student when director Billy Wilder selected her to play Betty Schaefer in “Sunset Boulevard.” She’d had a few credits on her resume, but Olson was a relatively new actress. She spoke of the great time she had on set, but also revealed that her experience proved she didn’t want to be a movie star. 

Olson spoke to PEOPLE in August 2025. Regarding stepping back from acting, she revealed, “I said to myself, ‘I do not want to be a movie star, a commodity to sell.’ I will be thrown away someday just as Gloria Swanson was, and so was Marilyn Monroe. What I decided at the end of that movie was, ‘I don’t think I want to be a movie star. I want family, and I want children. I want a life, and this is not a life.”

Still, Olson did a handful of other films following “Sunset Boulevard.” As the years passed, she drew further away from acting except for a few limited roles.

Olson Recalled Preparing for ‘Sunset Boulevard’

Elsewhere in the PEOPLE interview, Olson recalled her time filming “Sunset Boulevard,” specifically, the preparation for the role. In terms of playing her character, she shared, “I remember being very impressed that Billy chose me to play Betty Schaefer, and after a certain point, I realized that he wanted me not to be a character; he wanted me to be myself.”

She continued, “He interviewed me on the lot, walking around on the way to the commissary, and he’d asked me a million questions. What was it like growing up in Milwaukee? What was it like to be in college and work?… He wanted the public to believe that I could possibly be that person.”

Olson added, “And you know something? I was a little too naive not to be scared to death! I kind of came in and they said he wanted me to wear my own clothes, and I thought, ‘Okay, I’m going to be Nancy.’ And there I was.”

She also recalled her time with the cast. Regarding Gloria Swanson, Olson shared, “Gloria was very friendly to everyone. For her to be back doing the major part that she was playing was something that she understood, more than anyone else on the set: that this movie would never be forgotten, that this was something that was rare and that would have an impact.”

Olson added, “She understood that, and she knew that she would never ever be forgotten.” She also spoke of Bill Holden and how he had to overcome quite a bit in his life at the time. Notably, she said, “Bill’s life was falling apart.” However, he was able to use real-life pain for the role. 

The Movie Is Now in 4 K

According to Rolling Stone, the 4 K Blu-ray version of “Sunset Boulevard” hit stores on August 5. From Paramount Home Media Distribution, this fully restored version celebrates the film’s 75th anniversary. This is the first time the film has been released in Ultra High Definition. 

Of course, this also comes as the Broadway revival of “Sunset Boulevard” starring Nicole Scherzinger has become a hit.