In 1972, Ali MacGraw and Steve McQueen were Hollywood’s ultimate power couple — and no image captured their allure more perfectly than a photo of them together on the set of Papillon in Jamaica.
At first glance, it seemed like just another glamorous snapshot, but knowing what we do today, the picture takes on a very different meaning…
For those who don’t know, Ali MacGraw wasn’t actually in the film at all.
She had just met McQueen, and their connection was instant. At that point, she was fresh off the colossal success of Love Story (1970), which had cemented her as one of the most recognizable actresses in the world. McQueen, already known as the “King of Cool,” was at the height of his fame. His tough, rebellious on-screen persona paired with a rare, understated charisma that drew everyone in.
Their romance began in earnest during the filming of The Getaway (1972), where they played lovers on-screen. McQueen had visited their home to ask her to star alongside him in The Getaway, and the two Hollywood stars clicked right away.
“I looked in those blue eyes, and my knees started knocking,” MacGraw recalled. “I became obsessed.”
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