Geena Davis said she auditioned for the role of Gail Stanwyk in 1985’s Fletch, but the star claims she was “not attractive enough to play that part” and instead, her comedy ability landed her the role of Larry in the comedy-thriller film.
Geena Davis has claimed she was “not attractive enough” to play the lead female role in Fletch – but her comedy ability landed her a small part in the film.
The 70-year-old actress tried out for the role of Gail Stanwyk, the wife of millionaire tycoon Alan Stanwyk (Tim Matheson), who tries to pay investigative reporter Irwin M. Fletcher (Chevy Chase) $50,000 to kill him after saying he has terminal cancer.
However, the part ultimately went to Dana Wheeler-Nicholson, with Geena instead starring as Larry, a young woman who becomes involved in a drug ring expose led by Fletch.
On the latest episode of Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast, Geena said: “Well, you know, I had such a small part.”
She then claimed: “I originally auditioned for the lead female character. And I’m pretty sure they said, ‘Well, you’re not attractive enough to play that part, but we think you’re so funny, we want you in the movie.'”
Parks and Recreation alum Dax noted that “this was ‘85 where they would tell you, you’re not attractive”.
Oscar winner Geena added: “And they said, ‘Oh, there’s this part of this morgue chief, whose name is Larry, but we’ll change it to a female for you.’ And I said, ‘But I still want to be Larry.'”
Dax told the entertainer that “it made it very memorable that you were Larry”.
He wondered whether Chevy was “grouchy” during filming of Fletch, given his reputation in the 1980s.
Geena insisted: “No, he wasn’t. Not at all. He might have really enjoyed that movie or something because he seemed fun and funny and chill and great. He seemed great.”
Geena was a model before she made her acting debut in the 1982 comedy-romance film, Tootsie.
And the star said modelling did not give her confidence with her beauty.
In 2022, Geena told The Times: “I just thought I had figured out some magical way of holding my body so they would think I was pretty.
“Am I beautiful? I can be beautiful, where I actually accept it, when I’m all dressed up, makeup and hair and everything.
“Then I think, ‘Oh yeah, I’m not so bad’. But it’s a struggle. It’s [always been] a struggle.”
Noting that it “hasn’t been a source of pain”, she added: “It’s got much better over the years. I feel like I’ve got more attractive with every decade. Either I have, or I’m feeling better about myself. Which is great.”
Geena Davis says she was ‘not attractive enough’ to play lead female role in Fletch
