- Helena Bonham Carter, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, 2006. Annette Bening, Toni Collette, Nicole Kidman, Cyndi Lauper, Bernadette Peters plus great Brits Staunton, Kristin Scott Thomas and Kate Winslet were seen for Mrs Lovett, making the meatiest of meat pies (from the victims of a demonic Johnny Depp). They all lacked one essential. They were not living with director Tim Burton! HBC was and to underline it, she was was pregnant during the shoot.
- Lesley Manville, Maleficent, 2012. Another fairy tale joins the Hollywood reboots, telling all from the viewpoint of Sleeping Beauty’s nemesis – the titular Angelina Jolie, no less. But who should play the fairies: Knotgrass, Fittle and Thistletwit. DIsney ideas ranged from reviving the Hocus Pocus trio of Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, Sarah Jessica Parker to Judie Dench, Emma Thompson, Tara Reid – to, finally, Imelda Staunton, Lesley Manville and Juno Temple. Not released until 2014.
Birth year: Death year: Other name: Casting Calls: 2