Shirley MacLaine has no regrets about turning down the iconic role of Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s—at least, not in the way you might think.
In her new memoir, The Wall of Life: Pictures and Stories from this Marvelous Lifetime, MacLaine opens up about her decision to pass on the 1961 role, famously played by Audrey Hepburn. “In 1961, they offered me the role of Holly Golightly, but I turned it down because I didn’t want to worry about my weight or go through all those fittings for the outfits,” she shares. “I legendarily hated fittings. Plus, I didn’t think it was a very good script.”
She admits that while the producers were disappointed, there was a brief moment when she wondered if she’d made the wrong choice. “At one point, I thought, I should have done that and stayed thin, but I don’t really regret it,” she says.
This isn’t the first time MacLaine has discussed turning down the role. In the past, she’s mentioned that her decision was due to picking another film, 1961’s Two Loves, instead. But her decision aligns with a broader narrative: Truman Capote, the author of the novel Breakfast at Tiffany’s, had originally wanted Marilyn Monroe to play Holly, believing she was the perfect fit for the character. Monroe, however, chose The Misfits instead, which ended up being her final film.
MacLaine also reflects on her time working with Audrey Hepburn in The Children’s Hour, another 1961 film. “Audrey and I grew up in the ballet world, so it felt like we were already old friends,” MacLaine recalls. “I adored working with her. She taught me a little about dressing; I taught her a little about cussing. I had a crush on the director, William Wyler—on his soul, specifically—and after filming, Audrey and I were friends for years.”
Interestingly, MacLaine cites the costume fittings as a reason for her reluctance to take on the Holly role. Hepburn, on the other hand, famously collaborated with designer Hubert de Givenchy, resulting in one of the most iconic looks in cinematic history—Holly’s little black dress, pearls, tiara, and sunglasses.
Had MacLaine taken the role, it’s likely that Edith Head, who worked as the costume supervisor on the film, would have designed her wardrobe. Givenchy, however, was a key collaborator with Hepburn, so the film’s overall styling would have looked very different with MacLaine in the role. Interestingly, MacLaine would later work with Edith Head on the 1964 film What a Way to Go!, which featured a lavish and whimsical wardrobe.
The Wall of Life hits shelves on October 22, offering more stories from MacLaine’s remarkable career and life.