Jennifer Lawrence believes negative comments about her appearance cost her the Sharon Tate role in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
When it was announced in 2017 that cult director Quentin Tarantino would be making a film about the infamous Manson murders, rumors quickly spread about who would be cast in the role of Sharon Tate. Two names in particular made the rounds: Jennifer Lawrence and Margot Robbie. Tarantino ultimately chose Robbie, who appeared in “Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood” (2019) alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margaret Qualley, Dakota Fanning and Austin Butler.
Jennifer Lawrence, on the other hand, has not appeared in any of Quentin Tarantino’s films to date – although she has been considered for roles several times. Looking back, the Oscar winner now suspects that she didn’t get the role of Sharon Tate for a particularly bitter reason: because of her looks.
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Social media as a career killer?
At an event at the 92NY cultural center, Lawrence recalled the casting process at the time. In conversation with interviewer Josh Horowitz, she spoke candidly about her experiences and the power of public opinion online. The Hunger Games actress believes negative reactions on social media ultimately stopped Tarantino from casting her. “And then everyone said, ‘She’s not pretty enough for Sharon Tate,'” Lawrence said. The statement comes from the podcast “Happy Sad Confused,” in which she shared her memories. “And then they didn’t do it.”
She talks to Joshua Horowitz about her missed role:
Lawrence himself leaves it open whether this version is true. “I’m pretty sure it’s true. Or it’s that I’ve been telling the story for so long that I believe it myself,” she said self-deprecatingly. Then she added, “Or he just never considered me for the role and the internet went out of its way to call me ugly.”
Maybe at the musical?
It’s not the first time that Tarantino and Lawrence’s paths have almost crossed. For “The Hateful Eight” (2015), Lawrence was in discussion for the role of Daisy Domergue, which was ultimately played by Jennifer Jason Leigh. “I declined. I shouldn’t have done that,” Lawrence admitted in retrospect.
However, collaboration does not seem to be ruled out. Tarantino recently announced that he had put his tenth and final film on hold and would instead turn more to the theater. He told Deadline in January 2026 at the Sundance Film Festival that he was “absolutely excited about live theater.” If Lawrence ever pursues a Broadway career, there could still be a late collaboration there.
What Lawrence missed
“Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood” is loosely based on real events. Sharon Tate, known from films such as “Valley of the Dolls”, was eight months pregnant with her husband Roman Polanski when she and four other people were murdered by members of the so-called Manson Family in 1969. The Tate/LaBianca murders went down as one of the most gruesome crimes in American criminal history – and provided Tarantino with the basis for an alternative, cinematic historical narrative.
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