A confession here: I’ve never managed to sit through all of “Psycho” (my partner had to halt “Divergent” recently due to my unease with the military scenes).

Nevertheless, even someone like me, a horror novice, is familiar with the movie’s infamous shower scene.

The chilling moment features Janet Leigh’s character, Marion Crane, meeting a gruesome fate at the hands of Anthony Perkins’ portrayal of the eerie hotel owner, Norman Bates.

The impact of Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece was undeniably profound, evident even to those like me who shy away from horror films.

It appears that this impact extended beyond the audience to affect the actors involved as well.

In a 1984 interview with Women’s World, Janet Leigh revealed how deeply the shower scene reverberated in her personal life.

The actress confessed that the scene left her so disturbed that she abandoned showers altogether, opting for baths instead.

Admit it, we all had similar reactions after watching it.

It was intense.

During the interview with journalist Ed Gross, Leigh disclosed, “I switched to baths and made sure to lock all doors and windows when I can only take a bath.”

Even after the filming wrapped up, Leigh’s unease persisted.

She admitted, “I keep the bathroom door and shower curtain open, ensuring that I always face the door, no matter where the shower head is.”

Unfortunately, the frights did not end on the movie set for Leigh.

She shared with Woman’s World that some individuals, disturbed by the film, expressed intentions in disturbing letters to replicate Bates’ actions on her character.

Leigh recalled, “Frighteningly, there were people who saw ‘Psycho’ as an outlet for their dark thoughts, and I received numerous letters threatening to mimic Bates’ behavior towards Marion Crane.”

She continued, “While the frequency has lessened over time, the initial wave was quite alarming.

The involvement of the FBI became necessary, though thankfully, nothing transpired.”

By the way, that iconic shot of Leigh’s unblinking eye post-death is often speculated to be a still image moistened with water.

However, Leigh debunked this notion during her Woman’s World interview.

Dismissing the claim, she stated, “Before shooting the scene, Hitchcock and I visited an optometrist.

He wanted me to wear lenses for a spooky gaze.”

Given the tight schedule, wearing the lenses wasn’t viable due to the extended adaptation period required.

Leigh recounted, “It would have taken six weeks for my eyes to adjust, which was impractical.

So, I maintained the look without the lenses.

It wasn’t a photograph, but holding that expression was no easy feat.”

The behind-the-scenes stories of “Psycho” truly demonstrate the dedication and sacrifice demanded in the pursuit of cinematic marvels.