It's been more than 30 years since Ali McGraw lost his home in the 1993 Malibu fire. Now, in light of the LA fires, the 85-year-old “Love Story” actress is sharing an emotional story of loss and resilience. She details the moment she knew it was time to flee Los Angeles and offers advice to those recently affected by the tragedy.
“When that happened to me, I lost everything,” said McGraw, who now lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Hollywood Reporter. “After the fire, the crappy little outfit I wore to yoga was literally all I owned. I had just rented a house and all my possessions were in it. Ty. Just before leaving for work, I had placed everything exactly where I wanted it and got rid of everything that wouldn't fit in that house. I knew it.”
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Ali MacGraw, known for his role in the 1970s film Love Story, fled Los Angeles in 1993. (Getty Images/Everett Collection)
McGraw always dreamed of living near the Pacific Ocean and rented various homes in Malibu throughout the '70s.
But in November 1993, a fire burned 18,000 acres in Malibu over 10 days, the report said. malibu times. McGraw's rental home was completely destroyed.
“Everything was gone,” she told THR. “All we had was this strange property overlooking the ocean and some metal outdoor furniture given to us by the owner of the house, looking out at this frightening, deep smoke-filled sky and this churning ocean. It was like a scene from a movie.” ”
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McGraw moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico after losing his Malibu home in a fire in 1993. (Everett Collection)
“I remember very calmly saying, 'What can I learn from this?' It's like a sophisticated version of 'Why me?' But that's not why they chose me,” she continued. “What happened was so bizarre and so huge that the edge of Malibu was completely destroyed. Then I heard this message: 'Get out of Los Angeles.' I laughed out loud. I thought, 'Wow, yeah.''' Isn't there a more subtle way to make that suggestion? ”
“For some reason, I never cried,” she added. “I never continued. This is not a comment on how great I am or anything like that, but I was stone cold. I don't know why because it was scary. It was considered one of the major fires in Malibu, but what happened before can't affect what's happening now. ”
McGraw starred opposite Ryan O'Neal in “Love Story.” (Everett Collection)
McGraw made a name for himself in Los Angeles.
Throughout most of the 1960s, McGraw worked for years as a photographic assistant at Harper's Bazaar magazine and later as a model and stylist at Vogue.
In 1969, she became internationally known for her role in “Goodbye, Columbus,'' and a year later, she starred opposite Ryan O'Neal in “Love Story.'' Los Angeles was home.
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“What happened was so bizarre and so huge that it completely destroyed that edge of Malibu. That's when I heard this message: Get out of Los Angeles.”
McGraw wanted to stay in Malibu, but he realized something.
“It dawned on me that same week as I was walking with a friend through the heartbreaking parts of the Palisades that had just been destroyed,” she said. “We were walking down the street looking for a house to live in. There was nothing. I remember my friend and I going down every block with Starbucks and our dog. . I started crying. The guy had been doing it every day for months. Apparently he saw me crying and said, “Why are you crying? I said, “I can't find a place to live.'' He said, “But I heard you have a house near Santa Fe?” I told him it was for sale, and he said if it wasn't for sale, 'Why don't you go there? ” he said. ”
McGraw, who was spotted in his hometown of Santa Fe this week, appealed to people to show compassion and kindness to those affected by the LA fires. (background)
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“I didn't know if I'd like it,” she added. “I never wanted to live in a desert or a dry, arid place. I loved living close to the ocean and surrounded by greenery and flowers. I said the incredibly obvious words, 'If you don't want to, don't be there.' That was 32 years ago. ”
McGraw said it's important for people to understand that disaster can happen to “any of us” at any time.
“The more people act with kindness and generosity, the better off we will all be,” she says. “Anyone who has a vacant property of any kind would like to offer it up, not as an opportunity to make a lot of money, but to help these people out for a year at the most amazingly reasonable rents they could ever imagine. I hope you do. We live in a time like this when people have more money than the entire country and helping a few families would really make a big impact. ”
The actress is currently enjoying a quiet life in Santa Fe, New Mexico. (background)
Having experienced similar situations, she is appealing to people to show more “compassion, kindness and generosity across the board.”
”[It] “It could change our civilization,” she says, adding, “What ever happened to the phrase, 'There but for the grace of God go I?'” Well, somehow, with deep breathing and kindness, over time you shift to a different emotion. ”
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“This is a great time for people to reach out,” she added. “It doesn't have to be huge. Even the smallest gestures make a difference in the world. We use language and emotional You have to start reversing your behavior: the high hysteria, the anger, the emotions. There's an easier, softer way.”
Although McGraw once led a busy life in Los Angeles, she enjoys the peace and quiet that Santa Fe offers.
“At this point, I'm a strange old bird. I live north of Santa Fe, and I'm very involved in nature and in my community,” she said. new york times In May. “I'm lucky to be healthy, and I know a lot of people who don't have that choice. I have a life that makes me happy.”
“I'm grateful that I had everything, but I live a completely different life now,” she added. “I don't care at all about being seen wearing the latest clothes or knowing the latest songs. I don't feel down if I don't know those things. I've done it all and been noticed. That's for another time.'' ”
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