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Geena Davis has revealed she was told she wasn’t “attractive” enough to play the female lead in the 1985 comedy Chevy Chase. Fletch.
Instead, Davis was cast in the supporting role of Larry, a young woman who becomes embroiled in an investigation led by Chase’s investigative character, Irwin “Fletch” Fletcher.
Davis spoke about the cult classic while appearing on Monday’s episode of Dax Shepard. Armchair Expert podcast.
Citation Fletch For one of his favorite comedies, Shepard asked Davis what it was like working with the famously acerbic Chase.
“Well, you know, I had such a small role,” Davis replied. “I originally auditioned for the female lead… And I’m pretty sure they told me, ‘Well, you’re not attractive enough to play.’ What part, but we think you’re so funny that we want you to be in the movie.”
Geena Davis has revealed she landed the role of Larry in Fletch after being told she wasn’t attractive enough to play the female lead. (AFP/Getty)
Dana Wheeler-Nicholson eventually played the film’s female lead, Gail Stanwyck, the wife of millionaire Alan Stanwyck, who attempts to pay Fletch to kill him after he claims he has terminal cancer and that suicide will invalidate his life insurance policy.
“It was ’85 when they tell “You, you’re unattractive,” Shepard said incredulously.
Davis continued, “And they said, ‘Oh, there’s this morgue chief part called Larry, but we’ll change it to a woman for you.’ And I said, “But I still want to be Larry.”
She added that Chase was not at all “ungrumpy” during filming, despite the reputation for difficulty that followed him in later years.
Davis, 70, has previously spoken about her struggles with her appearance and how she is perceived in Hollywood.
Geena Davis starred opposite Chevy Chase in the 1985 cult comedy classic. (Universal pictures)
Thelma and Louise the star became a model before launching her acting career, which began when director Sydney Pollack cast her in his 1982 cult classic. Tootsie.
Talking to Times ahead of the 2022 release of her memoirs, Death by politenessDavis said modeling did not convince her of her own beauty.
“I just thought I had found some magical way to hold my body so they would think I was beautiful,” she said.
“Am I beautiful? I can be beautiful where I actually accept it, when I’m all dressed up, makeup, hair and everything.
“Then I think, ‘Oh yeah, I’m not that bad.’ But it’s a struggle. It (has always been) a struggle.”
Although her struggles “haven’t been a source of pain,” she said, “I’ve gotten a lot better over the years. I feel like I’m becoming more attractive every decade. Either that or I feel better about myself. And that’s great.”