Home / Arts and Entertainment / Jessica Lange's Grueling King Kong Audition Revealed
Jessica Lange's Grueling King Kong Audition Revealed
23 Sep
Summary
- Lange was a waitress before her big break.
- She auditioned for King Kong after moving back from Paris.
- Lange received Oscar nominations for later acclaimed roles.
At 77, Jessica Lange recounted her surprising audition for the 1976 film King Kong on a recent talk show. She had recently returned to New York from Paris, considering further acting studies.
A modeling agency approached Lange about an unknown to be cast in the film. Intrigued, she flew to Los Angeles for a screen test, a significant step from her life as a waitress living in a fifth-floor walk-up.
Despite a hesitant initial reaction from the studio, Lange's agent insisted on filming her screen test. Ultimately, she was hired for the role, marking her film debut.
Lange admitted that the magnitude of the film was beyond her initial aspirations. After its release, she felt dismissed and received few offers for years.
However, her career flourished, leading to Academy Award nominations for Frances (1982) and Sweet Dreams (1985). She also earned Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for Feud: Bette and Joan (2017).
