It is hard to imagine anyone but Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon starring in Thelma & Louise – playing the good friends whose weekend road trip becomes a road chase when they’re forced to go on the run after killing a man. But for a while Holly Hunter and Frances McDormand were tipped as leads, then director Ridley Scott lined up Jodie Foster and Michelle Pfeiffer when he first became involved in production.
When they dropped out, Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn campaigned for the roles. Butthe stars were turned down because the studio making the movie thought Goldie was too old to play Thelma and Meryl wasn’t tough enough to play Louise.
Geena, 65, originally wanted to play Louise until she met Susan and realised the now 74-year-old actress was perfect for the role.
“Pretty much the second Susan walked in the room, I was, ‘Are you kidding that I could play Louise?’ Susan was so selfpossessed, so centred and together,” Geena said in 2016.
Susan, meanwhile, didn’t have high hopes for the film. “I thought it was going to be a cowboy movie with trucks and women,” she admitted in 2020. “It turned out to be something that was so empowering and infuriating at the time.”
GOOD & BAD GUYS
This story is from the May 24, 2021 edition of Woman's Day Australia.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 24, 2021 edition of Woman's Day Australia.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
HOW TO FIX OLD FRIENDSHIPS
If there's a long-lost pal you'd like to reconnect with, the first step is to write or pick up the phone
84 & STILL CATCHING KILLERS!
There's one case that continues to haunt retired ex-homicide cop Allen
CHRIS HEMSWORTH RES RETURNING HOME TO THE TOP END!
There was a warm welcome for the actor when he made a surprise stop
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED ON THE BEATLES WEDDING DAYS!
In this exclusive book extract, insider Peter Brown tells all
ISLA & SACHA DIVORCED! ...and the signs were there for months
She engaged a divorce lawyer two years ago, but the couple are only just coming clean now
GRANT KENNY'S HEARTBREAK BRAVE CANCER BATTLE
The sporting great is staying strong for his girlfriend Stojanka as she battles breast cancer
FARMER ANDREW & JESS' BIG DAY 'WE'RE STILL ON CLOUD 9!❜
The reality stars say 'I do' at a perfect country garden party
CYRUS LOVE TRIANGLE! NOAH CAUGHT 'LIKING' LIAM!
Friends of Miley Cyrus say she \"hit the roof\" after her little sister Noah \"liked\" one of ex-husband Liam Hemsworth's sexy workout pictures on Instagram.
HAS RUSTY CALLED OFF HIS WEDDING TO BRITNEY?
Russell Crowe refused all invites and requests to celebrate his 60th birthday on April 7, telling friends he had \"no plans\" to mark the milestone, citing work commitments.
HARRY'S FURY OVER WILLIAM'S FRIENDSHIP WITH CAMILLA!
The estranged duke will never be able to trust his stepmum