- Sissy Spacek, Carrie, 1976.
- Carrie Fisher, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, 1976.
- Morgan Fairchild, The Seduction, 1982. US writer-director David Schmoeller had wanted Russell for the stalked TV newscaster. But it was Morgan who received a fan letter from Bette Davis, praising her performance.
- Ruth Halliday, Aria, 1987. Selected by her UK director-husband Nicolas Roeg to play the mistress of King Zog of Albania – she finished up playing the King! This switch came about after a drunken evening for Nic and his London producer Don Boyd. “It needed a rather grand type of performance,” suggested Roeg, “and an actor playing it might have put too much love into it. Whereas, with a woman, it creates a sense of distance.” Huh?
- Amanda Donohue, The Rainbow, 1989. Among the Hollywood refusers, she worked later with over-the-top UK director Ken Russell on his next cinema movie, Whore, 1991.
- Virginia Madsen, The Hot Spot, 1989. Doubtless put off by the required nudity, Russell refused director Dennis Hopper’s erotic movie. Debra Winger had been his initial choice. He also checked Jodie Foster (not best buddies since their earlier ’89 gig, Catchfire) and Melanie Griffith (pregnant… with Dakota Johnson, whose father, Don Johnson, was Hopper’s leading man). Ultimately Virginia Madsen was the supremely sensuous Dolly – finding sex in car more fun than eating cotton-candy barefoot – perfectly matching what Chicago critic Roger Ebert hailed as “a superior work in an old tradition.” Hopper liked to call it Last Tango In Texas. They wuz both right!
- Dana Delany, Exit To Eden, 1994. Russell and Susan Sarandon were in the loop before Ann Rice’s S&M novel was prettywomanised into another Garry Marshall comedy. (A flop, this time).
- Jennifer Ehle, Wilde, 1997. Among the actresses shortlisted for the innocent victim in thehistorical drama.Mrs Oscar Wilde.
Birth year: Death year: Other name: Casting Calls: 8