The Star Who Owned the Stage
The heart of the controversy begins on Broadway. A young Julie Andrews originated the role of Eliza Doolittle in the 1956 stage musical and became a massive star. For years, she was Eliza, earning a Tony nomination and universal acclaim for her pitch-perfect
voice and enchanting performance opposite Rex Harrison. When Warner Bros. decided to adapt the musical for the screen, everyone assumed Andrews was a lock to reprise the role that made her famous. Everyone, that is, except for one of the most powerful men in Hollywood.
A Star Is Born, Another Is Benched
Studio head Jack L. Warner refused to cast Andrews, dismissing her as a theater performer who wasn't a bankable movie star. He wanted a big name, and he paid a then-staggering $1 million for one: Audrey Hepburn. Hepburn was a beloved Oscar winner, but there was one major problem—she wasn't the powerful singer the role of Eliza demanded. Despite her best efforts, most of her singing was ultimately dubbed by Marni Nixon. The decision was a blow to Andrews and sparked outrage among theater fans. Lyricist Alan Jay Lerner reportedly told Andrews, "I so wanted you to do it, Julie, but they wanted a name." Even Hepburn felt Andrews should have had the part. Warner was unmoved, reportedly telling Hepburn that if she turned down the role, the next offer would go not to Andrews, but to Elizabeth Taylor, another huge star who desperately wanted the part.
The Professor Who Almost Wasn't
While the Eliza drama unfolded, the casting of Professor Henry Higgins was also far from certain. Though Rex Harrison had won a Tony for the role on Broadway, he wasn't the studio's first or only choice. Warner Bros. considered a host of other leading men, including Peter O’Toole, Rock Hudson, and Noël Coward. The most legendary near-miss was Cary Grant. When offered the part, Grant not only turned it down but gave the studio an ultimatum. He reportedly said that not only would he not play Higgins, but if they didn't cast Rex Harrison, he wouldn't even go see the movie. Grant felt Harrison owned the role, and he humorously noted that his own original Cockney accent was closer to Eliza's than a linguistics professor's.
An Oscar-Winning Consolation Prize
In the end, Harrison was cast and would go on to win the Academy Award for Best Actor. But the story has a perfect Hollywood ending for the actress who was overlooked. Passed over for My Fair Lady, Julie Andrews was free to accept the lead in another 1964 musical: Disney's Mary Poppins. The film was a colossal success, making Andrews an international movie star overnight. At the following year's Academy Awards, My Fair Lady took home Best Picture, but Audrey Hepburn wasn't even nominated for Best Actress. The award went to Julie Andrews for Mary Poppins, a moment of sweet, cinematic justice that sealed one of Hollywood’s most fascinating casting tales.
