Meryl Streep Was Told She Was 'Too Ugly' For King Kong
May 25, 2016

Meryl Streep Was Told She Was 'Too Ugly'
Talk to any "successful" person and you'll quickly realize that success isn't instantaneous. First comes failure, and it takes perseverance to press on past the discouragement it brings with it. For example, popular actress Meryl Streep has been wracking up awards since the 80's. Yet, she shares a powerful story from before she made it big, when she was actually told during an audition that she was "too ugly" for the role. But just look at her now! [rsnippet id="2" name="ArticleAd-300x250-3"] Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty Images Before Meryl Streep earned herself the title as the "best actress of her generation," she had to battle her own share of insecurities and set backs. "I didn't have confidence in my beauty when I was young," Meryl says. So, imagine how incredibly disappointing it must have been for the aspiring actress to be denied a major role based solely on her looks! It was the mid-70's, and Meryl Streep was working hard to make a name for herself. So, certainly the young actress must have been reeling with excitement after the son of the major Italian film producer, Dino De Laurentiis, invited her to come meet his dad. Dino was casting for the female lead in the 1976 King Kong movie, and after seeing one of her plays, Dino's son thought Meryl would make a great fit. But as Meryl walked into Dino's sprawling Manhattan office, he turned to his son and said in Italian, "Why do you bring me this ugly thing?" Meryl Streep in 1976 Credit: Getty Images What the father and son didn't realize was that Meryl speaks Italian. Imagine how painful it must have been to hear such cruel words. But the actress maintained her composure and handled the insult with grace. Meryl responded in Italian, saying,"I understand what you're saying. I'm sorry I'm not beautiful enough to be in King Kong."RELATED: This comedian was told he wouldn't make it after he refused to blaspheme Jesus! Meryl describes the encounter as very sobering for a young girl. She was still a relative "nobody" and Dino was one of the best producers in the business. Had she accepted his misguided opinion as fact and considered herself "too ugly" to ever succeed in Hollywood, Meryl Streep would have never become a household name. Meryl Streep in Kramer Vs Kramer Credit: Columbia Pictures But instead, she persevered.
"I think the most liberating thing I did early on was to free myself from any concern with my looks," Meryl says. "For an actress, worrying about appearance is a horrible, horrible trap."Meryl refused to give up on her dream, even in the face of failure, and she's since enjoyed a career that's spanned several decades. The esteemed actress has won 2 Emmy's, 8 Golden Globes and 3 Oscars (among many other awards), and currently holds the industry record for the most Academy Award acting nominations. You can hear the story in Meryl's own words in the video below: Failure is part of life, and it's something we will all encounter more than once. When we do, it's important to not lose heart. There's a Japanese proverb that says to "fall 7 times and stand up 8." The strength to stand up each time comes from the Lord -- when we are weak, He is strong. I hope this story uplifts you today! Please be sure to share it with anyone you know who may be struggling, to provide encouragement and comfort in knowing that He has already overcome the obstacles we face!
"I have said all these things to you so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble: but take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33
This star is speaking out about how Hollywood treats people of faith!
h/t: The Graham Norton ShowToday's Devotional
A Prayer When it Feels Like You're Always in Conflict - Your Daily Prayer - July 8
This is what we need when we are stuck… a miracle! May you find the strength to go to the Lord once again and seek his will for your life. Let him do what only he can do.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer When it Feels Like You're Always in Conflict - Your Daily Prayer - July 8
This is what we need when we are stuck… a miracle! May you find the strength to go to the Lord once again and seek his will for your life. Let him do what only he can do.
Past Stories
- She’s Raising Two Sons with a Rare Condition—and Showing Others How They Thrive
- A Neighbor's Call Saves the Life of a Newborn Baby Whose Mom Had Passed Away
- After Months of Paralysis and a Ventilator, Mom Talks to Young Son and Tells Him 'I Love You'
- Shelter Dog Detects a Stranger's Medical Emergency and Becomes a Hero
- Grieving the Loss of Their Daughter, They Chose to Keep Fostering Hope
- Gloria and Bernice, Identical Twins Turn 100, Celebrate Decades of Memories
- Father of Three Dies After Being Struck By Lightning While On Golf Course
- Married 18 Years, Parents of 4 Are Both Diagnosed with Stage 4 Cancer
- He Lost His Wife. She Lost Her Husband. Together, They Found a New Beginning
- She Earned Her Degree, Then Gave Her Dad a Second Chance at Life
- They Were Told Their Pup Had Been Hit By a Car, 4 Years Later They Found Her Alive
- New York Soccer Coach Collapses On the Field, Parents Jump in to Save Him
- Community Gathers to Remember 12-Year-Old Girl Who Died in a Scooter Accident
- After Surviving Family Tragedies, Stroke, and Coma, Teen Walks in Her Graduation Ceremony
- Civilian Stops to Save Woman in a Burning Car, 'It Could Have Been My Mom'
- They Adopted a Baby Boy, Then Extended Extraordinary Grace to His Birth Mother
- Cancer Survivor Shocks Everyone With His 4th Lottery Win
- Brian Wilson, Co-Founder of the Beach Boys, Passes Away at 82
- Vietnam Vet Passes Away, His Mailman Rushes to Adopt His Dog
- 4-Year-Old Called a Hero After Teacher Collapses at Daycare, and She Knows Exactly What to Do
- After 100-Mile Journey, Including a Swim, Missing Golden Retriever Mix is Finally Back Home
- Life Delayed Her Dream, But Didn’t Deny it. At 88, She Became a Graduate, and Witness to God’s Timing
- Gary Sinise Opens Up About His Son’s Death and the Gift of Grandfatherhood
- Young Girl is Saved by Good Samaritan After Falling 15 Feet Into a Waterfall
- Retired Alaska State Trooper Helps Rescue Husband Pinned by 700-lb Boulder
- 9 Year Old Boy Saves Mom and Newborn Sister By Calling 911, 'My Mom Could Have Died'
- Police Escort Paralyzed Teen to Prom Years After Childhood Shooting
- Young Boy in Wheelchair Walks at His Kindergarten Graduation, Surprising His Family
- Woman Credits Her Faith After Tire Flies Through SUV Windshield in Near-Death Crash
- 98-Year-Old Twins Cherish Life, Love, and Faith While Living Next Door to One Another
- Airman Served in WW2, Now He is Finally Coming Home 81 Years After He Died
- Teens Are Heroes After Saving Family From Fire On Their Prom Night
- She Survived 3 Weeks Lost in the Wild, Fighting Off Animals and Snowstorms
- Triplets Graduate From Texas Tech Together, All Earning Degrees in Media and Communication
- She Lost Her Son's Baby Book, But It Was Returned to Her at the Right Moment
- Man and His Dog Reunited After Being Hit by Drunk Driver
- Nurse With Caring Spirit Says Yes to Dying Mother's Wish For Her Son, and It's Beautiful
- She Never Told Her Friends She Was the School Mascot, Then Shares Her Secret at Graduation
- Mom Donates Kidney to Daughter, Now They’re Graduating Nursing School Together
- Grieving Son Finds Kindness When Trying to Print a Photo of His Mother Who Just Passed Away
- Nebraska Mom Raised Concerns About Husband's Mental Health Before Tragic Murder-Suicide
- Brothers Discover 1976 Message in a Bottle, Then Find the Man Who Wrote It
- California High School Discovers They Have 14 Sets of Twins in Their Graduating Class
- Paralyzed Pup Tyrion Finds New Life With a Doggie Wheelchair
- Autistic 8-Year-Old Boy Goes Missing, Found by Water Thanks to Quick Response
- Two Nurses Come to the Rescue of a Teen Girl in the Process of Being Kidnapped
- Brave Man Jumps Into Water to Save Woman After She Was Attacked By Bull Shark
- She Was Going to Miss Prom After Breaking Her Back at a Trampoline Park, the Hospital Had Other Plans
- Mom Finds Hope After Tragedy, Hears Her Daughter’s Heartbeat in a Child Who Got a Second Chance
- 90-Year-Old Cancer Survivor Has Saved Over 10,000 Animals, and She’s Still Not Slowing Down
Top Music Videos

Bill and Gloria Gaither Guy Penrod's Stirring Live Performance of 'Then Came The Morning'

Oak Ridge Boys 'Jesus Is Coming Soon' The Oak Ridge Boys

GodTube Music Ben Fuller’s Acoustic ‘Turn’ Is a Stirring Testimony in Song

Kari Jobe Kari Jobe’s Powerful Live ‘Who Else’ Performance

Oak Ridge Boys 'Because He Lives' Classic Performance From The Oak Ridge Boys
Blog
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.