Jennifer Lawrence shared on a podcast that she turned down a role in Quentin Tarantino's 'The Hateful Eight' and later lost the part of Sharon Tate in 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' due to online criticism about her appearance. The actress reflected on the incidents during a recent interview, expressing regret over her decisions. Margot Robbie ultimately portrayed Sharon Tate in the 2019 film.
Jennifer Lawrence opened up about two missed opportunities to work with director Quentin Tarantino on the 'Happy Sad Confused' podcast. Hosted by Josh Horowitz, the conversation revisited Tarantino's past interest in casting her. Lawrence recounted turning down the role of the battered Daisy Domergue in 2015's 'The Hateful Eight,' a decision she now regrets. 'I turned it down,' she said. 'I should not have done [that].' Jennifer Jason Leigh took the part and received an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress.
Lawrence also addressed rumors about 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' (2019), where she was considered for Sharon Tate, opposite Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt. She believes internet backlash played a role in her not getting the part. 'Well, he did, and then everybody was like, “She’s not pretty enough to play Sharon Tate,”' Lawrence told Horowitz. She added, 'I’m pretty sure it is true... Or he just was never considering me for the part, and the internet just, like, went out of their way to call me ugly.' Margot Robbie ultimately landed the role.
Tarantino, in a 2021 appearance on Marc Maron's WTF podcast, clarified his early considerations for Lawrence in the film. He had 'flirted' with casting her as Manson follower Squeaky Fromme, not Tate. 'Early on, I investigated the idea of Jennifer Lawrence playing Squeaky,' he said. 'So she read it, and afterward we talked about it a little bit… something didn’t work out.' Tarantino praised Dakota Fanning's performance in the role, calling it one of the film's best.
The casting buzz reached Sharon Tate's sister, Debra Tate, who told TMZ she preferred Robbie. 'They are both extremely accomplished actresses, but I would have to say my pick would be Margot,' Debra said. 'Simply because of her physical beauty and the way she carries herself — it’s similar to that of Sharon... She’s just, I don’t know, she’s not pretty enough to play Sharon.' Later, Debra lauded Robbie's portrayal to Vanity Fair: 'She made me cry because she sounded just like Sharon... I actually got to see my sister again… nearly 50 years later.'
Lawrence's revelations highlight the impact of public opinion on Hollywood casting, blending her personal reflections with Tarantino's account.
