Margaret Keane Attends ‘Big Eyes’ Screening in L.A.

Margaret Keane made a special appearance at the Weinstein Company screening of Big Eyes at The Ace Hotel in downtown Los Angeles last week. It was announced that this would be her only official appearance at a showing of the film, which is based on real-life events. Writers Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, along with Amy Adams, were at hand as well for the post-screening Q&A.

The film, which was directed by Tim Burton, accounts for what Margaret’s life was like when she was married to Walter Keane and how her big eyed paintings became big in the art world. Margaret is played by Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz plays Walter Keane, who ends up exploiting her talent and taking credit for all the artwork.

Keane was received with a standing ovation after the movie ended as she walked onstage for the Q&A. She talked about working with the writers and letting them in on personal details about her life, including her relationship with her daughter Jane, and even confirming that Walter Keane in fact did cross-examine himself at their trial over the ownership of the paintings.

“I was blown away,” Keane said when she first saw the film in reference to Waltz’s performance as Walker. “It was a very emotional, traumatic experience when I first saw the movie. I just couldn’t believe it. I was really in shock for about two days.” She commented on how she had no idea who Amy Adams was when she was told who was going to play her. “I didn’t know who Amy Adams was… [but] Amy portrayed exactly how I was feeling. I don’t know how she did it.” Adams touched on how she went about playing Margaret. “I felt a huge responsibility to play her with a lot of dignity and respect because I think she is a woman who has a lot of dignity and a lot of respect, not only for herself, but for others.”

Keane mentioned how she knew Burton for many years now and that he was a big fan of her artwork. She was very excited that he was part of this project. “He has been collecting my paintings for a long time. I knew he’d do a wonderful job,” she said before she joked: “Actually, you know. I really directed it, and he’s taking all the credit!”

Ed Wood is another film that Alexander and Karaszewski wrote and Burton directed. In comparison, Big Eyes has a more direct form of storytelling with a few slightly surreal bits. The story is about real people and not fantasy, which we usually see in Burton’s films. Alexander and Karaszewski mentioned how Big Eyes was made for less money and on a tighter schedule than Ed Wood, and it’s more indie like Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure.

As the Q&A concluded, she was asked what she wanted audience members to leave with after watching the film. She said, “Stand up for your rights and be brave, and don’t be intimidated. Read your Bible. That’s really given me strength, and it will give you strength. Pray, and use God’s name, Jehovah. And never tell a lie, ever.”

Big Eyes hits theaters on Dec. 25.