Jessica Lange recalls near-rejection before ‘King Kong’ debut

Actress Jessica Lange recently shared details regarding her early career struggles and her breakthrough role in the 1976 film ‘King Kong’. During an appearance on ‘Live With Kelly and Mark’, the 77-year-old actress recounted how she was nearly overlooked for the role that launched her stardom.

Before her film debut, Lange was living in New York and working as a waitress after spending time in Paris. When producer Dino De Laurentiis sought an unknown face for his production, a modeling agency contacted her, prompting a trip to Los Angeles for screen tests at MGM studios.

Lange revealed that the initial meeting with producers was unsuccessful, stating, ‘They took me under the microscope, looked at me just once and were not interested.’ Her career was saved by her New York agent, who insisted that since she had been brought to the location, the producers should at least record her on film. This persistence allowed her to secure the role of Dwan, marking her cinematic debut alongside Jeff Bridges.