Jennifer Lawrence has candidly spoken about a missed opportunity in her career, revealing that she was once considered for the role of Sharon Tate in Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood but believes online criticism played a major part in the decision not to cast her. The Oscar-winning actor shared that during early discussions around the film, internet trolls questioned whether she was “pretty enough” to portray the late Hollywood icon, a narrative that ultimately overshadowed her potential involvement.
Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Lawrence explained that she had been approached in connection with the project before public opinion online began circulating harsh comparisons. According to her, the criticism became so loud that it may have influenced the casting direction or at the very least reshaped how the story unfolded. She acknowledged that while memories can blur over time, she is fairly certain the online reaction played a role in her not landing the part.
The role of Sharon Tate eventually went to Margot Robbie, who went on to receive widespread praise for her performance. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood featured an ensemble cast including Leonardo DiCaprio as fading television actor Rick Dalton and Brad Pitt as his loyal stunt double Cliff Booth. Set against the backdrop of a rapidly changing Hollywood in 1969, the film intertwined fictional characters with real-life figures, culminating in an alternate retelling of the tragic events surrounding the Manson Family murders.
Released in 2019, the film was both a critical and commercial success, earning more than USD 377 million worldwide and cementing its place as one of Tarantino’s most talked-about works. Lawrence’s reflections have reignited discussions around beauty standards in Hollywood and the growing influence of social media narratives on casting decisions, especially for female actors.
Sharon Tate remains a lasting symbol of Hollywood’s lost potential. Murdered in 1969 at just 26 years old, she was at the peak of her career, having appeared in films such as Valley of the Dolls, The Fearless Vampire Killers, and 12+1. Lawrence’s comments underline how legacy roles tied to real-life figures can be subject not only to creative judgment but also to intense public scrutiny.