- Jennifer Connelly, Labyrinth, ad 1985. For (alas) his final film as a director, Muppeteer-in-Chief Jim Henson 14 candidates for his adolescent heroine, Sarah, forever in a dreamworld. They included LSG, Yasmine Bleeth, Helena Bonham Carter, Laura Dern, Kerri Green, Mary Stuart Masterson, Sarah Jessica Parker, , Mia Sara, Lili Taylor and Marisa Tomei. Choices reached a final five – Maddie Corman, Jane Krakowski, Ally Sheedy, Sarah Williams… and the stunning Connelly.
- Sofia Coppola, The Godfather: Part III, 1989.
- Nicole Kidman, Days of Thunder, 1990. In so early, her script was still Daytona – and the girl was an ophthalmogist. But the star helped write the finished version and had just got married, so Mrs Tom Cruise got the role – now a brain surgeon!
- Annabella Sciorra, The Night We Never Met, 1993. Losing folk along the way, the 1990 cast was postponed to ’91 and then again to ’93
- Selma Hayek, Frida, 2002. Dropped – when many Mexicans were furious about the non-Mexican Laura almost playing their celebrated artist, Frida Kahlo.
- Sherilyn Fenn, Birds of Prey, TV, 2002-2003. In the future, eons after the Bruce Wayne has Batcar-ed himself into exile, his work continues with the Birds: Black Canary, Oracle and The Huntress.
- Kiele Sanchez, Related, TV, 2005-2006. After 149 episodes as Maya on Just Shoot Me, 1997-2003, Laura was booked to be Ann Sorelli in the pilot – and suddenly replaced for the actual run of 19 weak shows… By which time Laura was in Veronica Mars, 2006,and Saving Grace, 2007-2009.
Birth year: Death year: Other name: Casting Calls: 7