Julianne Moore is a powerhouse actress who made her breakthrough in the 90s by starring in some memorable films. She is a versatile performer with a unique ability to portray a wide range of emotions and dramatic intensity with ease and precision. Films such as Short Cuts, Vanya on 42nd Street, Safe, Boogie Nights, The End of the Affair, Far from Heaven, Game Change, and Still Alice brought her many accolades and praise, including winning an Emmy and an Oscar for Best Actress for the latter two respectively.
Moore was also considered for many roles in films that she didn’t end up playing. One of them was the highly acclaimed 2018 drama Can You Ever Forgive Me?, which starred Melissa McCarthy. Moore was initially considered for the role McCarthy played but was fired due to creative differences.
Julianne Moore Was Fired From Can You Ever Forgive Me? Due to Creative Differences
Actress Julianne Moore was initially considered for the role of Lee Israel in the highly acclaimed 2018 film Can You Ever Forgive Me?. The story was based on a real-life author who committed literary forgery of deceased authors and writers. Apparently, Moore was fired from the film due to creative differences with the film’s writer Nicole Holofcener. Richard E Grant who starred in the film, said, (via DailyMail.co.uk)
“Julianne Moore wanted to wear a fat suit and a false nose to play Lee Israel and Nicole Holofcener said, ‘You’re not going to do that.”‘
Moore also addressed the situation on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, saying,
“I didn’t leave that movie, I was fired. Nicole fired me. So yeah, that’s the truth. I think she didn’t like what I was doing. I think that her idea of where the character was, was different than where my idea of where the character was, and so she fired me.”
Melissa McCarthy was ultimately cast as Lee Israel in the film and it would become the most acclaimed film of her career while also being a huge departure from her usual comedic roles. She was even nominated for Best Actress at the Golden Globes and the Oscars for her role in the film.
Julianne Moore Had a Unique Approach For Her Character in May December
Julianne Moore has an upcoming dark comedy-drama film called May December which she stars alongside Natalie Portman. Portman plays an actress in the film who approaches Moore’s character to learn more about her life for a biopic on her which leads to the opening of some old wounds and uncomfortable memories. Director Todd Haynes explained Moore’s process of getting in character for the film at the New York Film Festival saying,
“I really wanted a fictional story that dealt with this tabloid culture of the ‘90s that has seemingly bled into this true-crime biopic world we’re in right now. I wanted to question that transition and why we want to keep recreating those stories. Down to the cadence and her manner of speech, there were things in the loose upper palate that we did find interesting in Mary Kay Letourneau’s speech that was a kickoff for (Moore), and she took it further.”
May December was recently screened at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival where it got high praise from critics and audiences. The film will have a limited theatrical release on November 27, 2023. It will be available to stream on Netflix from December 1, 2023.
