In 1990 Close went on to play the role of Sunny von Bülow opposite Jeremy Irons in "Reversal of Fortune" to critical acclaim. The film drew some controversy since it dealt with the Claus von Bülow murder trial, while the real Sunny von Bülow was still in a vegetative state. Sunny's children publicly criticized the movie. In the same year, Close played Gertrude in Franco Zeffirelli's film adaption of "Hamlet". It was the first Shakespeare role that Close had ever attempted on screen (she appeared in 1975 in a stage production of "King Lear" in Milwaukee). Close would later go on to join the cast of "The House of the Spirits", reuniting her with Jeremy Irons. She also had a cameo appearance in Steven Spielberg's "Hook" (1991) as a pirate. In 1992, Close starred in "Meeting Venus" for which she received critical acclaim and won Best Actress (Golden Ciak) at the Venice Film Festival. In the same year, Close became a trustee emeritus of The Sundance Institute.