Meryl Streep Lost Role Because She's Horribly Ugly

By Stassa Edwards  |  January 10, 2015 | 9:00pm
Latest

In an interview on The Graham Norton Show silver screen goddess and master of the oddball acceptance speech, Meryl Streep, told a funny/depressing story about losing a role over her looks.

In 1976, a then-unknown Streep was introduced to Italian producer Dino De Laurentiis, Sr. by his son who thought she’d be right for the role of Dwan in King Kong. When he saw the horribly, deformed monster known as “young Meryl Streep,” De Lauretiis looked at his son and asked, in Italian, “Why do you bring me this ugly thing?”

And because Streep speaks Italian (of course she does) she responded, “I’m sorry I’m not beautiful enough to be in King Kong,” with a fuck you emphasis on the King and Kong. Streep relates the story in her effortless Streep-ness. Mark Ruffalo and Professor X, who are sitting next to her, seem to approve.

De Laurentiis wasn’t, apparently, offended by the looks of young Jessica Lange, the 1976 film was her first movie.

 
Join the discussion...