Meryl Streep says that she lost out on the role of the beauty in the 1976 film King Kong because the producer thought she was ugly.

When she met  film maker Dino De Laurentis at an audition he was unimpressed with her physical appearance and ranted in Italian about her less than spectacular looks. But little did he know, she understood every word.

Streep explains,

“He said to his son, who organised the meeting, ‘She’s ugly. Why did you bring me this thing.’ He didn’t realize I’d just graduated and studied Italian 105. When I replied in Italian, he looked like he had been shot.”

Jessica Lange eventually won the role.

Below: Jessica Lange as Dwan in King Kong, 1976.

[WENN]