Jennifer Lawrence says even an Oscar and a string of blockbuster hits weren’t enough to land her one coveted role—because, she claims, she wasn’t considered “pretty enough.”
The actress made the revelation during a live taping of the Happy Sad Confused with Josh Horowitz, released Monday, while discussing the filmmakers she still hopes to work with. When host Josh Horowitz suggested that Quentin Tarantino had long been interested in casting her, Lawrence was quick to complicate the narrative.
Apr 27, 2018; Louisville, KY, USA; Jennifer Lawrence walks the ‘orange carpet’ at the 3rd annual Awards in the Arts Ceremony at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Mandatory Credit: Scott Utterback/Courier Journal via USA TODAY NETWORK
Horowitz reminded Lawrence that Tarantino once wanted her for The Hateful Eight, specifically the role of Daisy Domergue, which ultimately went to Jennifer Jason Leigh. Lawrence confirmed she had been approached but turned it down due to scheduling conflicts during the height of The Hunger Games publicity.
The conversation then turned to Tarantino’s 2019 film Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood. Horowitz asked whether Lawrence had also been considered for the role of Sharon Tate.
“Well, he did and then everybody was like, ‘She’s not pretty enough to play Sharon Tate,’ and then they didn’t,” Lawrence said, drawing a sympathetic reaction from the audience.
While Horowitz pushed back on the idea, Lawrence acknowledged she wasn’t entirely certain whether it was an official casting decision or a narrative that took hold online over time. Still, she maintained that the criticism stuck. “I’m pretty sure that happened,” she said, adding that the internet may have simply “gone out of their way to call me ugly.”
Mar 12, 2023; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Margot Robbie poses backstage during the 95th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 12, 2023. Mandatory Credit: Al Seib/A.M.P.A.S./Pool via USA TODAY NETWORK
The role of Sharon Tate ultimately went to Margot Robbie, portraying the real-life actress and model who was murdered in 1969 by followers of Charles Manson. Ahead of the film’s release, Tate’s sister, Debra Tate, publicly said she preferred Robbie for the role, citing her resemblance to Tate and adding that Lawrence was “not pretty enough”—a comment that sparked backlash at the time.
Tarantino later said he explored casting Lawrence as Squeaky Fromme, another figure tied to the Manson family, but ultimately went in a different direction. The part was played by Dakota Fanning.
Lawrence ended the discussion with her trademark deadpan humor, joking that she also auditioned for Twilight but didn’t get the role because she was “too ugly.”
