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AN iconic Nineties horror movie star looks completely unrecognisable 35 years on from her starring role in an utterly scary film.

Harley Jane Kozak appeared in the spine-chilling 1990 movie Arachnophobia where she played the role of Molly Jennings.

Harley Jane Kozak in Arachnophobia.
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Harley Jane Kozak looks worlds away from her time in ArachnophobiaCredit: Alamy
Headshot of Harley Jane Kozak.
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The actress has gone through a number of changes since 1990Credit: Alamy
Harley Jane Kozak in a pink shirt.
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She is now a successful authorCredit: YouTube / The BGB Studio

The 68-year-old is also remembered for her stint in the 1980s slasher movie, The House on Sorority Row.

But these days the star looks worlds away from her horror movie days and she also has a brand new career away from the screen.

These days, Harley is an accomplished author who has published several books.

She turned her focus to writing in the early 2000s and published her first book in 2004.

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The novel, Dating Dead Men, became a runaway success and bagged Harley a slew of awards including an Agatha, Anthony and Macavity Award.

Her books have seen her travel around the world with the former actress making several appearances at top book and literacy festivals and events across the globe.

Her writing career is worlds away from having to film with spiders for the well-known 1990 movie.

Harley spoke to in 2017 where she discussed her time on the show and insisted it wasn't actually working with the spiders at the time of filming that was the worst part.

She said: "Whenever I see Arachnophobia it always sparks off nice memories.

"There was a sweetness to it. It was so fun to make with the happiest crew in the world - even though I know people find it a terrifying film and still scream at it.

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"Believe it or not I didn't really have much problem with the spiders on set.

"The hardest part was a photoshoot I did for a magazine afterwards when they put giant live tarantulas on my arm. That was worse than anything in the movie."

Harley, who lives in LA, also revealed the shocking real reason which forced her into a shock career change.

She explains: "My first pregnancy kind of ended my TV career. They told me I couldn't be pregnant for the part and please just go home and we'll pay you to go away and forget about this.

"But that was nice as it allowed me to finish my first novel.

"I had started writing more in my mid-30s anyway. I thought I had more talent and experience to bring to the party, but they didn't want me because I was getting old, approaching 40."

Harley's biggest film roles

1981-1982 - Texas - Brette Wheeler

1982 - The House on Sorority Row - Diane

1983-1985- Guiding Light - Annabelle Sims Reardon

1985-1989 - Santa Barbara - Mary Duvall

1989 - When Harry Met Sally... - Helen Hillson

1990 - Arachnophobia - Molly Jennings

1991 - All I Want for Christmas - Catherine O'Fallon

1997-1998 - You Wish - Gillian Apple

Harley Jane Kozak at a party.
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She starred in a slew of horror movies in the 80s and 90sCredit: Getty
Headshot of a woman in a light blue denim shirt.
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Harley's books have won her many awards
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