20 Celebs Who Were Turned Down for Roles Because They Were “Too Ugly” & 20 That Were Turned Down for Being “Too Pretty”
Meryl Streep
We’re kicking off our list with one of the most celebrated actresses of all time. While she’s now an award-winning star, Meryl Streep wasn’t always considered the cream of the crop. In fact, when she showed up to audition for the 1976 adventure movie King Kong, she was rudely rejected.
When Meryl arrived to audition, an Italian producer referred to her as “ugly” in his own language. Little did he know, Meryl speaks Italian and understood him perfectly. Awkward!
Emily Ratajkowski
Perhaps unsurprisingly, American actress and model Emily Ratajkowski is a celebrity that was turned down for being too attractive. Indeed, it’s hard to deny that the star is extremely good-looking. The former catwalk model has said that some directors don’t want to cast her because her chest is too large.
Emily Ratajkowski has said that she’s often pigeonholed as an attractive woman, and filmmakers can’t imagine her in other roles. She has shrewdly referred to this as “an anti-woman thing.”
Reese Witherspoon
There are several celebs on this list who we certainly wouldn’t think of as ugly, plain, or unattractive. One of those is Reese Witherspoon. However, the American actress has revealed that she was consistently told that she wasn’t pretty enough to play a leading role.
As well as not being seen as pretty enough, Reese was repeatedly told that she was too short. Alas, she now has an Academy Award, a BAFTA, two Golden Globes, and an Emmy that would beg to differ.
Charlize Theron
There have been several times that South African actress Charlize Theron almost missed out on roles because of her beauty. When she played serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster, she had to undergo a major transformation.
Likewise, when she auditioned for horror movie The Devil’s Advocate, the director told her she was too beautiful for the part. In response, Charlize stopped wearing makeup, didn’t brush her hair, and woke up early in the morning in order to look less striking. Thankfully, it worked!
When we think of Hollywood, we usually think of gorgeous celebrities, glamorous lifestyles, and endless opportunities. In reality, some of the biggest stars have been turned down because of their appearance. Some are deemed too ugly or plain, while others are deemed too attractive or appealing. The celebs on this list were either passed over for roles, or nearly missed out on them because of their looks. Join us as we see which top performers were told they were too ugly or too pretty for a part.