Duvall married artist Bernard Sampson in 1970.
Around this time, she met Robert Altman at a party while he was shooting Brewster McCloud (1970) on location in Texas.
Several crew members for the film were fascinated by Duvall's upbeat presence and unique physical appearance, and asked her to be part of the feature.
Duvall reflected on committing to the project: "I got tired of arguing, and thought maybe I am an actress.
They told me to come.
I simply got on a plane and did it.
I was swept away."
Duvall had never left Texas before Altman offered her the film role.
She flew to Hollywood and subsequently appeared as the free-spirited love interest to Bud Cort's reclusive Brewster in Brewster McCloud.

Altman subsequently chose Duvall for roles as an unsatisfied mail-order bride in McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971), and the daughter of a convict and mistress to Keith Carradine's character in Thieves Like Us (1974).
Duvall's marriage to Sampson disintegrated as her acting career accelerated, and they divorced in 1974.
Next, Duvall appeared as a spaced-out groupie in Altman's ensemble comedy Nashville (1975), and a sympathetic Wild West woman in Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson (1976).

The same year, Duvall left Altman to star as Bernice, a wealthy girl from Wisconsin in PBS's adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story Bernice Bobs Her Hair (1976).
She also hosted an evening of Saturday Night Live and appeared in 5 sketches: "Programming Change", "Video Vixens", "Night of the Moonies", "Van Arguments" and "Goodnights".

In 1977, Duvall starred as Mildred "Millie" Lammoreaux in Altman's psychological thriller 3 Women, portraying a woman living in a dreary California desert town.
Duvall's performance garnered the award for Best Actress at the 1977 Cannes Film Festival and the LAFCA Award for Best Actress, as well as a BAFTA nomination.
She next appeared in a minor role in Woody Allen's Annie Hall (1977).
While she was shooting Annie Hall in New York, Duvall met singer/songwriter Paul Simon.
The couple began a relationship and lived together for two years.
Their relationship ended when Duvall introduced Simon to her friend, actress Carrie Fisher; Fisher took up with Simon.
Duvall married artist Bernard Sampson in 1970. Around this time, she met Robert Altman at a party while he was shooting Brewster McCloud (1970) on location in Texas. Several crew members for the film were fascinated by Duvall's upbeat presence and unique physical appearance, and asked her to be part of the feature. Duvall reflected on committing to the project: "I got tired of arguing, and thought maybe I am an actress. They told me to come. I simply got on a plane and did it. I was swept away." Duvall had never left Texas before Altman offered her the film role. She flew to Hollywood and subsequently appeared as the free-spirited love interest to Bud Cort's reclusive Brewster in Brewster McCloud.
Altman subsequently chose Duvall for roles as an unsatisfied mail-order bride in McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971), and the daughter of a convict and mistress to Keith Carradine's character in Thieves Like Us (1974). Duvall's marriage to Sampson disintegrated as her acting career accelerated, and they divorced in 1974. Next, Duvall appeared as a spaced-out groupie in Altman's ensemble comedy Nashville (1975), and a sympathetic Wild West woman in Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson (1976).
The same year, Duvall left Altman to star as Bernice, a wealthy girl from Wisconsin in PBS's adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story Bernice Bobs Her Hair (1976). She also hosted an evening of Saturday Night Live and appeared in 5 sketches: "Programming Change", "Video Vixens", "Night of the Moonies", "Van Arguments" and "Goodnights".
In 1977, Duvall starred as Mildred "Millie" Lammoreaux in Altman's psychological thriller 3 Women, portraying a woman living in a dreary California desert town. Duvall's performance garnered the award for Best Actress at the 1977 Cannes Film Festival and the LAFCA Award for Best Actress, as well as a BAFTA nomination. She next appeared in a minor role in Woody Allen's Annie Hall (1977). While she was shooting Annie Hall in New York, Duvall met singer/songwriter Paul Simon. The couple began a relationship and lived together for two years. Their relationship ended when Duvall introduced Simon to her friend, actress Carrie Fisher; Fisher took up with Simon.
Shelley Duvall