Jennifer Lawrence opens up about losing the Sharon Tate role after the internet called her looks into question

Jennifer Lawrence opens up about losing the Sharon Tate role

• J. Lawrence says online comments cost her Sharon Tate role in Tarantino's film
• Margot Robbie cast as Sharon Tate, praised for resemblance

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Oscar-winning actor Jennifer Lawrence recently revealed that she believes she lost the opportunity to play Sharon Tate in Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood because some people online did not think she was “pretty enough” for the role. The actress shared the anecdote during a recent episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast, hosted by Josh Horowitz.

Lawrence, 35, said that Tarantino had at one point expressed interest in casting her as Tate, a real-life actress and rising Hollywood star tragically killed by the Manson Family in 1969. However, she recalled that public chatter and internet trolls focused on her appearance, arguing she didn’t fit the look they expected for the part. "And then everybody was like, ‘She’s not pretty enough to play Sharon Tate...And then they didn’t," Lawrence said, adding that she isn’t sure if the story is exactly how it unfolded or something she’s repeated so often she now believes it.

The role ultimately went to Margot Robbie, who received widespread praise for her portrayal of Sharon Tate. At the time leading up to the film’s release, Debra Tate, Sharon’s sister, spoke publicly about the casting discussions and favored Robbie for her physical resemblance and demeanor, commenting that both actresses were accomplished but that Robbie better matched her sister’s look.

"I’m pretty sure it is true. Or it’s that thing where I’ve been telling the story this way for so long that I believe it. No, but I’m pretty sure that happened. Or he just was never considering me for the part, and the internet just like went out of their way to call me ugly," Lawrence added.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is a 2019 period comedy-drama directed and written by Quentin Tarantino, set in 1969 Los Angeles. The film follows washed-up television actor Rick Dalton and his stunt-double friend Cliff Booth as they try to navigate a rapidly changing film industry and revive their careers while the infamous Manson Family murders loom in the background. Alongside the central fictional storyline, the movie features real-life figures like Sharon Tate, portrayed by Margot Robbie.