Juliette Lewis Reveals What Happened When She Rewatched One of Her Most Iconic Films

More than three decades after starring in one of Hollywood’s most unforgettable psychological thrillers, Juliette Lewis says revisiting the film left her with one unexpected response: an apology.

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly in an August 2 interview, the actress reflected on rewatching Martin Scorsese’s 1991 film Cape Fear during a recent screening and Q&A, admitting she couldn’t help but address the audience afterward.

“The first thing I did was apologize to the audience because it was so disturbing,” Lewis said with a laugh. “‘I’m sorry!'”

The conversation comes as Lewis returns to the Cape Fear franchise in Apple TV+’s new series adaptation, where she plays the mysterious character Crystal after portraying Danielle Bowden in the 1991 film opposite Robert De Niro, Nick Nolte, and Jessica Lange.

Lewis told the outlet that keeping her appearance in the new series a secret proved to be one of the biggest challenges.

“Very difficult,” she said. “We worked hard. They left my name off the credits.”

She even altered her voice for the role and embraced appearing behind a mask during her character’s early scenes to preserve the surprise.

Reflecting on the original film, Lewis credited Scorsese with shaping her confidence as a young actress.

“I think of Scorsese as someone who gave me my creative wings,” she said, explaining that the legendary director encouraged her to trust her instincts at a pivotal point in her career.

Now 53, Lewis says one thing has changed most since those early days in Hollywood.

“I don’t beat myself up as much because now I’m older,” she told the outlet. “I’m looking for more peace of mind.”