Rejection is an inevitable aspect of life, even for Hollywood icons like Meryl Streep. Despite being acclaimed as one of the greatest actresses of her generation, Streep has faced her share of setbacks on her journey to success.
The legendary 75-year-old actress has amassed a remarkable 21 Oscar nominations throughout her illustrious career. Her filmography boasts hits such as The Devil Wears Prada, Mamma Mia!, and The Iron Lady.
However, during her youth, Streep experienced a harsh rejection when she was deemed ‘ugly’ for a film role.
Recalling this moment, Streep shared the story during an interview with Graham Norton in 2015. She had auditioned for the 1976 film King Kong but ultimately lost the role to Jessica Lange, known for her work in American Horror Story.
Streep recounted how she caught the eye of film director Dino De Laurentiis’ son during a theatrical performance. Excited, he arranged a meeting with his father in a spectacular office overlooking Manhattan. As Streep recalled, “He had this amazing office that looked all over Manhattan I walked in and his son was sitting there, very excited that he’d brought in this new actress.”
In Italian, De Laurentiis questioned his son’s choice, using the words ‘che brutta’ to describe her, which translates to ‘why do you bring me this ugly thing?’ Streep, who understood Italian, found the experience ‘sobering’ but responded with a dignified comeback.
Addressing the director in Italian, she asserted, “I understand what you’re saying, I’m sorry I’m not beautiful enough to be in King Kong.”
Despite this early setback, Streep’s career flourished. Just four years after King Kong’s release, she clinched her first Academy Award for her role as Joanne in Kramer vs. Kramer. She went on to win additional Oscars for Best Actress in Sophie’s Choice in 1983 and for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady in 2012.
Streep has previously spoken about her self-doubt regarding her appearance. In a 2014 speech at Indiana University Bloomington, she reflected, “I was always in plays, but I thought it was vain to be an actress. Plus, I thought I was too ugly to be an actress. Glasses weren’t fabulous then.”
Beginning her professional career in theatre at the age of 26, Streep gradually transitioned to film. Her first major film role was in the 1977 movie Julia, and she received her first Oscar nomination two years later for her performance in The Deer Hunter.