Rejection is, regrettably, a normal part of life. Even Hollywood superstar Meryl Streep experiences rejection. Despite being considered the finest actress of her time, Meryl Streep has encountered numerous setbacks on her journey to success. Throughout her illustrious career, the 75-year-old has received a record 21 Oscar nominations. Notable movies include The Devil Wears Prada, Mamma Mia!, and The Iron Lady. However, during her childhood, Streep faced severe rejection for a film role due to her perceived physical appearance.

During an interview with Graham Norton in 2015, the Only Murders in the Building actor recounted the tale. Jessica Lange from American Horror Story won the main role in 1976’s King Kong, bypassing Meryl. Meryl informed Norton that while playing in a play, she had captured the eye of film director Dino De Laurentiis’ son. He invited her to see his father, who had a starry-eyed gaze. Meryl remembered: “He had this amazing office that looked all over Manhattan. I walked in, and his son was sitting there, very excited that he’d brought in this new actress.” The father expressed his excitement to his son in Italian, using the phrase ‘che brutta’, which translates to ‘Why do you bring me this hideous thing?’ Streep described the experience as sobering, but she was determined to make the ultimate comeback.

She responded in Italian, telling the director, “I understand what you’re saying, and I’m sorry I’m not beautiful enough to be in King Kong.” It’s reasonable to conclude that missing out on the job did not harm Streep’s career. Four years after King Kong’s premiere, she won her first Academy Award for her role as disturbed wife Joanne in Kramer versus Kramer. She has since won two more Academy Awards: Best Actress for Sophie’s Choice in 1983 and again in 2012 for her portrayal of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady. The diva has previously stated that she believes she is ‘too unattractive’ to be an actor. She told students at Indiana University Bloomington in 2014: “I was constantly in plays, but I believed it was pointless to be an actor. Plus, I believed I was too unattractive to be an actor. Glasses weren’t really fashionable back then.” The actress began her professional career in theater when she was 26 years old, before applying for film parts. Streep made her feature film debut in 1977 with Julia, and two years later, she received her first Oscar nod for The Deer Hunter.