Dana Delany confesses she “freaked out” the first time she met RobertRedford.
The 70-year-old actress spoke to People about the interaction she still feels embarrassed about at the TCM Classic Film Festival.
Delany worked with Redford’s son, JamieRedford, while acting in the 2003 film Spin. The drama also featured Stanley Tucci, RyanMerriman, and Paula Garcés.
The director’s father was “so supportive,” according to Delany.
“We had a little pre-dinner before the movie screened. I was sitting there with a plate on my lap, like a buffet thing. All of a sudden, I looked to my right, and there was Robert Redford on his knees in front of me, telling me how good I was in the movie, and he wanted me to know before all the hubbub started,” said the China Beach star.
Delany was shocked to receive a compliment from the Hollywood icon.
“I was so freaked out that Robert Redford was on his knees telling me this because it’s all I ever wanted in life,” she added. “Then I said, ‘Oh, thank you,’ and I turned away because I couldn’t handle it. I was just so freaked, and I regret that completely.”
“The poor guy got off of his knees and just walked away,” Delany said.
The moment was even more impactful because she had been a fan of the All the President’s Men actor since her youth.
“Robert Redford is a big part of my childhood. It’s funny, I would say the most romantic movie was The Way We Were,” Delany shared. “I’d say his sexiest was when he was The Sundance Kid.”
While starstruck in the moment, the actress shared that Redford was accustomed to similar reactions. “He knew the effect that he had on people,” she said.
Robert Redford was a Hollywood legend. He is best known for films such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), The Sting (1973), and Indecent Proposal (1993). The actor was an important figure in the independent film movement and founded the Sundance Institute.
Throughout his 65-year career, he won two Academy Awards and received four nominations. Redford died on September 16, 2025, at the age of 89.
This story was originally published by Parade on May 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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