Roles that Angela Lansbury could've played (3 Oscar wins + 2 Oscar noms and 2 Tony wins):
Turned down:
ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (Oscar win)
Angela Lansbury turned down the role of Nurse Ratchet because she 'couldn't bear her'. After she saw the movie she knew even more that she made the right decision. Ms. Lansbury said that Louise Fletcher is a great actress and deserves her Oscar very much.
FOLLIES (Tony win)
Turned down the role of Phyllis Rogers because of a schedule conflicts. Fellow MGM star Alexis Smith got the part.
THE KILLING OF SISTER GEORGE
Turned down the lead role of the lesbian soap opera star.
Actor who got the part: Beryl Reid
A TASTE OF HONEY
Was asked to reprise the role she originated on Broadway in a movie adaption, but turned it down.
Actor who got the part: Dora Bryan
TEA WITH MUSSOLINI
Angela Lansbury was cast in this film but had to withdraw when her husband became ill.
Actor who got the part: Joan Plowright
Was considered:
SUNSET BOULEVARD (Tony win)
Around 1980, Stephen Sondheim and Hal Prince were working on a musical adaptation (with Norma to be played by Angela Lansbury). She later had a meeting with Andrew Lloyd Webber to star in his production.
ALL ABOUT EVE
Lansbury was considered for the role of Miss Caswell.
Actor who got the part: Marilyn Monroe
BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE (Oscar win)
Lansbury (along with Ingrid Bergman and Olivia de Havilland) was one of the three major contenders for this role, but in the end Eileen Heckart repeated her stage success and won an Oscar.
Very happy for Ms. Heckart. Not only she was wonderful, but it's always nice when the actor who originated the role on stage is being cast in movie adaption.
MARY POPPINS (Oscar win)
Considered to play the stern nanny who helps change the life of the Banks family.
THE CORN IS GREEN (Oscar nomination)
Lansbury wanted to be cast in the role of Bessie, but was not loaned out.
Actor who got the part: Joan Lorring
A PLACE IN THE SUN (Oscar nomination)
Lansbury was one of the thirty actresses considered by the director, George Stevens, for the role of Alice Tripp. Shelley Winters got the part.
ANNA CHRISTIE
There was talk in the 1940's of remaking this role with Lansbury as Anna Christie, but it did not happen.
Actor who got the part: No One
EASY TO WED
Lansbury was originally thought of for this role.
Actor who got the part: Lucille Ball
FOREVER AMBER
Told Rex Reed that she was considered for the lead role, but added "What would I have done for bosoms?"
Actor who got the part: Linda Darnell
THE THREE MUSKETEERS
Lansbury begged MGM mogul Louis B. Mayer to let her play the Lady DeWinter part. He refused, insisting that she was better suited for the Queen Anne role--which Lansbury hated.
Actor who got the part: Lana Turner
THE GRADUATE
Angela Lansbury auditioned to play Mrs. Robinson.
Actor who got the part: Anne Bancroft
Updated On: 11/7/10 at 05:43 PM