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Shirley MacLaine  «   » 
 Roles turned down by Shirley MacLaine:

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
Shirley MacLaine turned down the role of Alice Hyatt. She admitted regreting it.
Actor who got the part: Ellen Burstyn

All That Jazz
Bob Fosse offered the role of Audrey Paris to MacLaine, who claims she gave Fosse the inspiration to make a movie about his experiences as a heart attack survivor. Some say MacLaine turned Fosse down because he couldn't meet her salary demands.
Actor who got the part: Leland Palmer

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
Shirley MacLaine campaigned to play the lead role. The studio rejected the idea.
Actor who got the part: Dolly Parton

Bloomer Girl
The star was contracted to play the leading role in a lavish George Cukor-directed musical version of the Broadway musical. The plug was pulled, MacLaine sued and won a huge settlement.
Actor who got the part: Project Abandoned

The Blue Bird
Shirley MacLaine dropped out of this project before filming began.

Bonnie and Clyde
MacLaine was considered for the role of Bonnie Parker.
Actor who got the part: Faye Dunaway

Breakfast at Tiffany's
Shirley MacLaine turned down the lead role of Holly Golightly.
Actor who got the part: Audrey Hepburn

Cabaret
Considered for the role of Sally Bowles.
Actor who got the part: Liza Minnelli

Cleopatra
Shirley MacLaine was considered to play the lead role.
Actor who got the part: Elizabeth Taylor

Driving Miss Daisy
Was interested in playing the lead role.
Actor who got the part: Jessica Tandy

The Exorcist
Declined the role of movie star, mother "Chris MacNeil."
Actor who got the part: Ellen Burstyn

Funny Girl
MacLaine was the studio's top choice to play legendary comedienne and Ziegfeld star Fanny Brice.
Actor who got the part: Barbra Streisand

The Graduate
According to her biography, Shirley MacLaine turned down the role of Elaine in The Graduate.
Actor who got the part: Katharine Ross

Mary Poppins
According to her autobiography, Shirley MacLaine wanted to play the title role.
Actor who got the part: Julie Andrews

My Fair Lady
When Julie Andrews proved to be unavailable, Shirley MacLaine wanted to play the lead role.
Actor who got the part: Audrey Hepburn

Norma Rae
According to her bio, Shirley MacLaine loved to play Norma Rae.
Actor who got the part: Sally Field

Once Upon a Time in America
Shirley MacLaine was offered the role of Carol, but passed on the job.
Actor who got the part: Tuesday Weld

Poltergeist
Shirley MacLaine was originally cast as the mother. She left the project to star in TERMS OF ENDEARMENT.
Actor who got the part: JoBeth Williams

The Sound of Music
Shirley MacLaine wanted to play the role of Maria Von Trapp, if Julie Andrews was not available.
Actor who got the part: Julie Andrews

Splendor in The Grass
When Warren Beatty was cast, he wanted her sister Shirley MacLaine to star but the studio preferred Natalie Wood.
Actor who got the part: Natalie Wood

The Stepford Wives (1975)
Considered for the role of Joanna.
Actor who got the part: Katharine Ross

Superman
Considered for the role of Lois Lane.
Actor who got the part: Margot Kidder

The Unsinkable Molly Brown
According to a friend of director Chuck Walters: "His first choice for the lead role was Shirley MacLaine, but Debbie campaigned to unseat her. She and Chuck were buddies, so she played that card big time! Debbie even called Shirley directly to talk her out of accepting the role. Shirley had tons of other offers, so she graciously stepped aside. That made it possible for Debbie to play the role and garner her only nomination as Best Actress."
Actor who got the part: Debbie Reynolds

Wives and Lovers
Producer Hal Wallis originally cast Shirley in the film but she refused to do it, even though she was under contract to him at the time. He put her on suspension and cast Janet Leigh in the part.
Actor who got the part: Janet Leigh

Women in Love
Shirley MacLaine was up for Ursula, but lost the role due to the nudity required for the film.
Actor who got the part: Jennie Linden






Did you know that Shirley MacLaine was not the only choice for these movies? (click to learn more)
» Around The World in 80 Days
» Can-Can
» Carolina
» Irma La Douce
» Postcards From the Edge
» Some Came Running
» Sweet Charity
» Terms of Endearment
» The Trouble with Harry
» Two for the Seesaw
» Two Mules for Sister Sara
» The West Side Waltz
» What a Way to Go!

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