Rosemary’s Baby at 50: How Mia Farrow’s iconic androgynous haircut continues to inspire
Mia Farrow’s iconic pixie haircut from the 1968 horror film Rosemary’s Baby proved iconic and has been copied by countless celebrities – from Tyra Banks to Rihanna – over the years.
Now, to mark 50 years since the film came out, we take a look at the legacy of Farrow’s androgynous haircut from the movie.
Rosemary’s Baby tells the story of a pregnant woman called Rosemary Woodhouse (Farrow) who thinks an evil cult wants to use her baby in their rituals. However, in a twist, she later realises that it’s her baby she actually needs to worry about.
Farrow debuted her daring pixie hair in the movie, which inspired women across the world to follow suit.
It was initially believed that Farrow was given the cut by legendary hairdresser Vidal Sassoon, and that her then-husband Frank Sinatra handed her divorce papers in disgust after seeing it.
But Farrow later revealed to The New York Times that she had cut it herself – using some fingernail scissors – while working on a TV series for Fox Studios, and said that Sinatra had “loved the cut.”
She said that film company Paramount staged a photoshoot of Sassoon cutting her hair as a publicity stunt, and that she’d worn a wig in earlier scenes.
So, who are some of the famous adopters of the Farrow-inspired pixie cut?
Tyra Banks
American television personality Tyra Banks debuted her new pixie haircut on Twitter in March 2015, with the simple caption: “Snip. #NotTooShort.”
Needless to say, her hair quickly went viral, with fans sharing memes and commenting on the parallel with Farrow’s 60s haircut.
Tyra Banks’s pixie haircut. (tyrabanks/Twitter)
Rihanna
The singer is known for cutting-edge style, and has sported several different pixie cuts over the years. She’s had the cut styled in various ways, including an asymmetrical version and a curly take on the classic look. She’s even had it dyed in garish pink.
Rihanna in December 2012. (Dominik Bindl/Getty Images)
Sienna Miller
In 2006, the actor cropped her hair short for her role as Edie Sedgwick in the film Factory Girl. Women everywhere rushed to the hairdressers in a bid to mimick the look.
Jennifer Lawrence
Lawrence lopped off her hair in 2013. She later said she opted for the shorter look because her hair had been “fried” from over-dyeing during filming for The Hunger Games.
Troye Sivan
The Australian-South African is well-known for his multiple pixie haircuts, both in blond and brown. The LGBT icon recently released a new song called ‘Bloom’ – about being on the receiving end during sex.
Troye Sivan’s pixie haircut. (Getty)
Anne Hathaway
Hathaway famously got her hair cut short during an emotional, one-take scene in the 2012 film Les Misérables, in an admirable display of the lengths she’d go to for her acting career.
Anne Hathaway arrives at the 19th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 27, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
Emma Watson
The actor got her liberating pixie cut as soon as filming had wrapped up for the Harry Potter film franchise in 2010. Goodbye Hermione.
Emma Watson attends the World Premiere of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows – Part 2 at Trafalgar Square on July 7, 2011 in London, England. (Ian Gavan/Getty Images)
Helen Mirren
The actor sported her Farrow-inspired locks back in 2011, turning heads when she went to the Producers Guild of America Awards in California without her usual blonde bob.
Cara Delevingne
The model and actor, who shocked fans when she had her hair shaved off for a role in 2018 movie Life in a Year, has rocked brunette and platinum blonde versions of Farrow’s 60s haircut.
Cara Delevingne in July 2017. (GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT/AFP/Getty Images)
Miley Cyrus
Cyrus surprised fans when she got a spikey version of the pixie cut, including with shaved sides, which she debuted on Twitter in 2012.
Natalie Portman
Portman has been seen sporting a faux pixie cut for upcoming musical drama film Vox Lux. She previously got her hair shaved off during filming for 2005 movie V for Vendetta.
