Fans have always speculated over just who was “so vain” in the catchy chorus.
Now Carly, who’s had a string of well-known lovers, has revealed the answer – it is in fact Warren Beatty.
Carly, now 80, confirmed to People magazine that the memorable line, “You’re so vain, you probably think this song is about you”, is directed at Warren.
But she also said that in fact, the entire song was not about Warren and that other verses were about two other men, whom she did not name.
Carly had long been coy about the subject of You’re So Vain, which was a number one hit in the United States and a number of other countries after its release in late 1972.
But Warren had been the most speculated suspect.
Best known for films including Reds, Heaven Can Wait and Bugsy, Warren was linked for years to high-profile women but has been married to actress Annette Bening since 1992.
Asked if she had told him, Simon replied cheekily, “Warren thinks the whole thing is about him!”
Despite the inherent irony, Warren in fact did believe You’re So Vain was about him.
In a 2007 interview with Britain’s Daily Express, he was quoted as saying, “Let’s be honest. The song is about me”.
