Natalie Wood’s daughter opens up about her mom in new documentary
Natasha Gregson Wagner, daughter of Hollywood star Natalie Wood, is shining a light on her mother and her mysterious death in a new documentary.
Wood, who died in 1981 at the age of 43, was known for roles in iconic films like Maria in "West Side Story," Deanie in "Splendor in the Grass" and young Susan Walker from the original "Miracle on 34th Street."
In the documentary, "Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind," Gregson Wagner shares never-before-seen home movies and intimate stories.
"A lot of those home movies we hadn't seen at all because they had just been in this box. Super 8s and 16 millimeter," Gregson Wagner told "Good Morning America's" Chris Connelly. "The biggest thing for me is that it just reminded me that I didn't dream the memories of my childhood. All that really happened."
In the 70s, Gregson Wagner saw her mother remarry her first husband, actor Robert Wagner, now 90. Gregson Wagner interviews her stepfather in the documentary.
In their interview, Connelly asked Gregson Wagner what it was like to ask Wagner about the last night of Wood's life.
"My heart was beating a bit because obviously he and I have spoken about that, but never on camera," Gregson Wagner said.
In November 1981, Wood drowned off the coast of Southern California’s Catalina Island during a night on a boat with Wagner and actor Christopher Walken.
"To me, what the culprit was that night was the alcohol. Had that not been a factor, I think maybe things would've turned out a little differently," Gregson Wagner said.
"You know, I feel closure about that night," she added. "I'm hoping with the documentary we can focus on her life. I think if she were alive today she'd be on the forefront of equal pay for women, she'd be on the forefront fighting for equal rights for the LGBTQ community. She was so ahead of her time in many ways."
The documentary debuts Tuesday on HBO.
