Laurie Bird.

 

While writing my Daily Poster post on Cockfighter I found this interesting set of videos. They make up an interview with actress Laurie Bird. This footage comprised one of the extra features in the Criterion release of Black Top Highway.

As far as I know, Laurie Bird was only in three films. Two Lane Blacktop, Cockfighter, and briefly in Annie Hall.
The interview is cute in a sort of condescending way. She has such a youthful, untested, toughness. Streetwise without being street experienced. Her hair is so intriguing to me. It's horrible and singularly her.

 

Laurie Bird was romantically involved with director, Monte Hellman. I'm not sure if they met on Two Lane Blacktop, but they were together for some time before she quit acting, became a photographer, and became involved with Art Garfunkel. Laurie Bird committed suicide at the age of 25 in Art Garfunkel's apartment. Monte Hellman has said that Bird had planned to be rescued by Garfunkel and not actually die.