throw her. It would be unfair. But then again, I didn’t want to be there at all because she was good and it was throwing my confidence off. Someone had made a scheduling blunder. When her audition was over I put my fingers in my ears so I wouldn’t be able to hear any comments from the director, Jim Sharman. But I did and of course they were all very complimentary. Then when she left, it got even worse for me. I could hear all of them talking about how good she was. And just then the person who had seated me in the first place came to get me. I wanted to ask if I could come back later for my audition so I could pull myself together, but I didn’t. I got up on stage. I sang. I was pitchy. Then I read with the fantastic Tim Curry. I thought I was much too loud. When it all ended no compliments were given, only a hearty handshake, a thank-you, and a polite good-bye. Well, the rest is show biz history. And really, can you imagine anyone else playing that role of Janet? Damn it!
Young Frankenstein: Madeline Kahn was going to play the part of Elizabeth Lavenza, but had a conflict with another film she was supposed to do and so I was called in to read with Gene Wilder for Mel Brooks. I had the best darn time! It was such a funny script. And I had the part for a New York minute, until Madeline’s schedule was rearranged so she could be in both movies. And honestly, could you ever envision anyone else playing that role but her?
Mack and Mabel: Gower Champion was directing this musical. I actually got up on stage at the Ahmanson Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles and sang for him. I got through my first song, “On the Radio” and from out in the darkness I heard, “Cindy, do you have another song?”
“Yes,” I said.
I sang “Rubber Ducky.” When I finished, I started off the stage and Mr. Champion said, “Wait! Stop!”
I stopped at the apron of the stage and he came up and looked at me and said, “I just wanted to get an up-close look at you.” He gazed at me intensely and after a few seconds said, “You are a raw talent!”
I was thrilled that Gower Champion had taken the time to acknowledge me as a talent, raw or otherwise. The part of Mabel Normand went to Bernadette Peters just because she can sing and dance!
Star Wars: George Lucas sent me the script and wanted me to screen test for the role of Princess Leia. Now what you have to remember is that this was before Star Wars ! There was no point of reference. Earlier, I had been to George’s house with some of the American Graffiti cast when he was writing it. I remember him talking about it and how he had gotten the idea of Chewbacca by seeing his wife pull up in the driveway with their dog, Indiana, sitting in the passenger seat next to her. He thought Indiana looked like her copilot. So there you go. Years later, I would think once again “what a genius,” when Sean Connery says to Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones , “You were named after the dog.”
Back to Princess Leia. After I read the script, I wondered how I was going to handle all of those words of very, very far off foreign references. They did not flow easily off my tongue, but I wanted this part. I memorized as best as I could. Coincidentally I screen tested with Frederic Forrest, who was also in The Conversation . It was a rude awakening to realize just how bad I was at screen testing. Even so, I held out hope that George would see past all my faltering with the lines and know that when it came down to it, I’d be perfect.
A week later I had a dream: I was looking at a girl, younger than myself. I knew she was younger because in my dream she was playing with dolls. George was also in the dream, arms folded, one hand up to his chin, rubbing it in deep contemplation, watching the young girl. He turned from watching her and looked over at me, then back to the girl. When I woke up, I knew I wasn’t getting the part.
Sure enough, he cast Carrie Fisher, who is younger than me. I was disappointed
Young Frankenstein: Madeline Kahn was going to play the part of Elizabeth Lavenza, but had a conflict with another film she was supposed to do and so I was called in to read with Gene Wilder for Mel Brooks. I had the best darn time! It was such a funny script. And I had the part for a New York minute, until Madeline’s schedule was rearranged so she could be in both movies. And honestly, could you ever envision anyone else playing that role but her?
Mack and Mabel: Gower Champion was directing this musical. I actually got up on stage at the Ahmanson Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles and sang for him. I got through my first song, “On the Radio” and from out in the darkness I heard, “Cindy, do you have another song?”
“Yes,” I said.
I sang “Rubber Ducky.” When I finished, I started off the stage and Mr. Champion said, “Wait! Stop!”
I stopped at the apron of the stage and he came up and looked at me and said, “I just wanted to get an up-close look at you.” He gazed at me intensely and after a few seconds said, “You are a raw talent!”
I was thrilled that Gower Champion had taken the time to acknowledge me as a talent, raw or otherwise. The part of Mabel Normand went to Bernadette Peters just because she can sing and dance!
Star Wars: George Lucas sent me the script and wanted me to screen test for the role of Princess Leia. Now what you have to remember is that this was before Star Wars ! There was no point of reference. Earlier, I had been to George’s house with some of the American Graffiti cast when he was writing it. I remember him talking about it and how he had gotten the idea of Chewbacca by seeing his wife pull up in the driveway with their dog, Indiana, sitting in the passenger seat next to her. He thought Indiana looked like her copilot. So there you go. Years later, I would think once again “what a genius,” when Sean Connery says to Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones , “You were named after the dog.”
Back to Princess Leia. After I read the script, I wondered how I was going to handle all of those words of very, very far off foreign references. They did not flow easily off my tongue, but I wanted this part. I memorized as best as I could. Coincidentally I screen tested with Frederic Forrest, who was also in The Conversation . It was a rude awakening to realize just how bad I was at screen testing. Even so, I held out hope that George would see past all my faltering with the lines and know that when it came down to it, I’d be perfect.
A week later I had a dream: I was looking at a girl, younger than myself. I knew she was younger because in my dream she was playing with dolls. George was also in the dream, arms folded, one hand up to his chin, rubbing it in deep contemplation, watching the young girl. He turned from watching her and looked over at me, then back to the girl. When I woke up, I knew I wasn’t getting the part.
Sure enough, he cast Carrie Fisher, who is younger than me. I was disappointed
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