Aaron Tracy

Neil also has this really husky, smoky voice, which gives her characters so much gravitas.

And the way she's able to shift her voice from tough to vulnerable within the same exchange offers layers to all her characters.

Like in this scene from HUD.

So, how is Dahl going to convince Neil to forget about her dreamy ex and marry him?

He's kind of hoping sex will do the trick.

One of Roald Dahl's great assets, Neil writes in her memoir, was his desire never to leave a female unfulfilled.

I learned that in the art of making love, Roald was a master.

And believe me, at this point in my life, I was not easy to reach.

One day during their courtship, on a perfect autumn afternoon, during a stroll through midtown Manhattan, Dahl works up the courage, turns to Neil, and abruptly asks her to marry him.

Her response?

Oh no!

Seriously, that's what she said.

She opens up about the moment more in her autobiography.

It's simple, I thought to myself.

I really don't love Roald, and I don't want to get married.

But then, that was not entirely true.

I did want marriage and a family.

Roald would have beautiful children.

What was I holding out for?

A great love?