Windswept hair swirls across Bardot’s face; she glances away ruminatively, smoking a cigar. Sinatra sweeps past idling holidaymakers at Miami Beach, one of his slick minders fixing us with a steely stare. Churchill acknowledges the crowd feebly whilst carried out of hospital, two months before his death. Iconic is an overused term, but it perfectly describes Terry O’Neill’s photographs.
The small but striking exhibition now showing at Gallery 2C in Clifton demonstrates why O’Neill’s name has become synonymous with the celebrity shot. It explores a fascinating juxtaposition between the British perception of celebrity and Hollywood glamour. The likes of David Bowie, Elton John and Tom Jones appear quirky and outlandish next to the effortlessly polished Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. Even the Queen and Prince Phillip are portrayed in a humorous light with their dorgi – a cross between a dachshund and a corgi – sat bolt upright at their feet.
By contrast, those British stars that crossed the Atlantic to become the ‘royalty’ of the American screen such as Joan Collins and Elizabeth Taylor have a much greater command of the art of ‘celebrity’ – gazing squarely into the lens, they implore us to adore them. Meanwhile, faded film idols such as Mickey Rourke and Michelle Pfeiffer are pictured at the height of their powers, a poignant reminder of the transient nature of celebrity.
Interestingly, the exhibition also features powerful portraits of Michael Douglas in 1988 and Catherine Zeta-Jones in 1997, before they became publicly linked. Beneath the glitz and the glamour though, there’s a subtle undercurrent of vulnerability, depicting personal tragedies and stories that have become public property. Shots of Eric Clapton and Woody Allen hint at the human flaws and imperfections that can either accelerate or undermine a celebrity’s status.
Every Terry O’Neill picture has its own story to tell. For anyone interested in the cult of celebrity, the world of the rich and famous, or simply fabulous portrait photography, this influential snapper is the man.
Jonathan Camp
‘Terry O’Neill: The Story Behind The Pictures’ is showing at Gallery 2C, The Mall, Clifton until mid-July.
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