Shirley MacLaine revealed plenty of secrets in her memoir, The Wall of Life: Pictures and Stories from this Marvelous Lifetime, with one of them being her decision to turn down the lead role in Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961). The role went to famed actor Audrey Hepburn and went down in cinematic history as the most famous role of her career. However, had MacLaine said “yes” to playing the part, we’re pretty sure the film would’ve looked a lot different – at least in the costuming department.
Shirley MacLaine didn’t want to lose the weight
Breakfast at Tiffany’s was based on the Truman Capote novel of the same name, and, in his mind, Marilyn Monroe was best suited for the role of Holly Golightly. However, she turned down the film to appear in The Misfits (1961), which was her final feature film, as her untimely death would come in August of the following year.
Next on the docket to play Golightly was Shirley MacLaine, who, as she explained in her memoir, also turned down the role before it was given to Audrey Hepburn. While she previously said she’d rejected the role because she chose to star in another film (1961’s Two Loves), she provided a different explanation in her book.
“In 1961, they offered me the role of Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, but I turned it down because I didn’t want to have to worry about my weight to be able to wear all those outfits and do all those fittings,” she shared. “I legendarily hated fittings. I also didn’t think it was a very good script.”
MacLaine said her decision disappointed producers and that “at one point, though, I did think, I should have done that and stayed thin.” Ultimately, she said, “I don’t really regret it.”
Stylistic look of Breakfast of Tiffany’s would’ve looked a lot different
Had Shirley MacLaine taken the role, Breakfast at Tiffany’s would have looked a lot different, specifically in the stylistic elements it’s become so famous for. In particular, the iconic look of the tiny tiara, sunglasses, pearl necklace and tiny black dress may never have made it to the silver screen.
This is because Audrey Hepburn collaborated with fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy specifically for the costuming of the film.
It’s likely that, if the role went to MacLaine, Givenchy would never have been involved in the project. Instead, she likely would’ve worked with legendary costume designer Edith Smith. While the look may have been impressive, they may never have landed on the brilliant outfit designed by Hepburn and Givenchy.
Shirley MacLaine and Audrey Hepburn starred together
Interestingly, Shirley MacLaine and Audrey Hepburn had worked together on a movie that released the same year as Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The pair headlined The Children’s Hour, an American drama where they run a boarding school for girls and an unruly child accuses them of participating in a lesbian relationship. MacLaine spoke of her experience with Hepburn on set, and it seems the two really hit it off.
Accompanied by a photo of the two, the actor wrote:
“[It was] one of the first major Hollywood movies to directly address the then-controversial subject of homosexuality. I grew up in the ballet, where a lot of people were gay, so that was never something that bothered me. Audrey also grew up in the ballet, so it felt like we were already old friends, and I adored working with her. She taught me a little about dressing; I taught her a little bit about cussing. […] After filming, Audrey and I were friends for years.”
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Over 60 years since the release of Breakfast at Tiffany’s, MacLaine still hasn’t seen the film.