The idea for 3 Women famously came to Robert Altman in a dream when his wife lay seriously ill in hospital. Upon waking up, Altman had a specific memory of directing Sissy Spacek and Shelley Duvall in a film about identity theft, set against a backdrop of the California desert. In the film, Spacek and Duvall star as housemates Pinky and Millie, who live and work together in a deserted dusty California resort town. Pinky idolises Millie but her behaviour turns sinister when she begins to mimic Millie’s mannerisms and behaviour, and starts demanding to be called Mildred.