- Caroline Goodall, Schindler’s List, 1992. Like the rest of us, Steven Spielberg was mightily impressed by La Stevenson in Truly Madly Deeply, 1990. But she was booked for a play in LA. Goodall became Mrs Schindler after having been Mrs Robin Williams in Spielberg’s previous film, Hook. Stevenson recalled she was in the bath when he called. “My mum called through the door. ‘Darling, there’s a Steven Spielberg on the phone.’ ‘God that’s hilarious Mum!’ ‘No I really think that’s his name.’”
- Emma Thompson, Remains of the Day, 1993. Considered when Mike Nichols cut costs by producing only, passing helming duties to James Ivory – who simply sent for his Howard’s End-ers.
- Sigourney Weaver, Death and the Maiden, 1994. “I’m hardly Hollywood material – they’re interested in youth and perfection. It’s not a place that’s particularly interested in talent.” Or that voice…!
- Jamie Lee Curtis, True Lies, 1994. Having broken through – and how – in Truly Madly Deeply, written for her by director Anthony Minghella, Janet was feted in LA and azsked to be Arnold Schwarzengger’s wife in the re-make of the French La totale! 1991. “I was driving round some freeway, trying to find the studio lot, and I suddenly thought: What am I doing? I don’t like this material. I don’t like these kinds of films, I actively disapprove of them – racist, violent. I didn’t like anything it stood for. I’m not gonna get it, anyway. So I turned the car round, went home, rang up and said: I’m not going… I don’t want to do stuff I don’t value.” And then, proving that there is a politico inside every actor, she quickly added: “There are some fantatsic, wonderful films coming out of America and I’ve had an absolute ball working there.”
Birth year: Death year: Other name: Casting Calls: 4