- Jean Seberg, Saint Joan, 1957. Although a trifle old at 24 for the 19-year-old Maid of Orleans, the tyrannical producer-director Otto Preminger was intrigued by the future TV comic – and indeed future Godmother of fellow candidate Julie Andrews’ daughter, Emma Walton.
- Barbra Streisand, Hello Dolly! 1968.
Dolly Levi was a match-maker. Therefore, not supposed tyo be young enough for a blushing bride. And yet Fox avoided the show’s award-winning Broadway star, Carol Channing, and offered Dolly to Julie Andrews, Carol Burnett, Doris Day, Shirley MacLaine, Debbie Reynolds and (gulp!) Elizabeth Taylor! (All she knew about singing was having wed (Debbie’s) Eddie Fisher As the shoot went from bad to worse, Streisand called ArthurLaurents, the Broadway/Hollywood scenarist who started her off in I Can Get It For You Wholesale (he beefed up her role because ”she was simple, vulnerable, moving, funny,. mesmerising, anything she wanted to be.” So, she called him from the Dolly set. “I’ve got a tap dancer for a director. [Gene Kelly]. What can I do?” “Nothing.“ “Nothing??II” “Nothing. You shouldn’t have taken the part. You’re at least 20 years too young.” But hot, certified and incorporated. When nominated for a Broadway Tony for her Funny Girl, Streisand was beaten by… well, hello Carol! - Angela Lansbury, Pirates of Penzance, 1983. She pushed hard to be Ruth, only role not played by an original Broadway show member.
- Lauren Bacall, Misery, 1990. Up for James Caan’s literary agent. Burnett also happened to be the comedy mentor of her lookalike, Vicki Lawrence, who was in the frame for the vengeful fan Annie Wilkes… in the 32nd of Stephen King’s staggering 313 screen credits.
- Estelle Harris, Toy Story 2, 1998. This time Don Rickles’ Mr Potato Head had a wife. But who should voice her…? Burnett, Cloris Leachman, Doris Robert, Betty White, Marcia Wallace (aka Mrs Krabappel in The Simpsons,1990–2014). Just as Roberts was famous for being Ray Romano’s mother in Everybody Loves Raymond, 1996-2005, the winner was best known as Jason Alexander’s mother in Seinfeld, 1992-1998.
- Joan Cusack, Looney Tunes: Back in Action, 2002. “A pretty grim experience all around – longest year and a half of my life.” Director Joe Dante refusing to say anymore about how his planned tribute to his late friend, toon ikon Chuck Jones, ended up a mess. Then again, when the suits approve Cusack over Burnett, Glenn Close and Jennifer Coolidge, as Mother, you know you’re in trouble.
Birth year: Death year: Other name: Casting Calls: 6