Acclaimed actress and multi-time Oscar-winner Cate Blanchett has opened up about her decision to turn down the role of Lucille Ball in Aaron Sorkin’s Being the Ricardos. Having worked with some of the biggest filmmakers in cinema, it would seem that a star of Blanchett’s calibre would relish the opportunity to play Ball, the iconic American comedian who broke new ground throughout her extensive career that spanned over 50 years. That wasn’t to be the case, however, as the Ball role eventually went to Blanchett's fellow Australian Oscar-winner, Nicole Kidman.
While Ball’s success came during an era of American history that is now long gone, her fame and legacy continues to impact new generations of fans. As one of the few women of her day to break down Hollywood barriers that were seldom challenged, Ball inspired countless numbers of women within Hollywood as well as those struggling to make it in a very male-dominated film and TV landscape. Her marriage to Desi Arnaz (Javier Bardem) in 1940 fell well outside the bounds of what was considered normal for a Hollywood star of the time, with racism against the Cuban Arnaz very much a factor in his struggle to find work. When it came time to cast the role of her husband in the iconic I Love Lucy TV series, Ball fought to have Arnaz hired and ultimately succeeded, despite considerable reluctance from CBS.
As Being the Ricardos continues to garner a mixed bag of reviews, the decision to cast Kidman as Ball has been questioned by some. Obviously finding the right actress to portray one of the biggest names in film and television history isn’t an easy task, and for a while, Blanchett was being pursued for the role. Eventually, however, Blanchett turned the role down, and in a recent interview with Variety, she looked back on that choice. Ultimately, the actress said that Being the Ricardos still “became the movie it needed to be” without her.
“It became the movie it needed to be. Those things happen in the right way, at the right time. In the best possible way, you don’t always envisage the same thing; and then it goes on to become a different entity. When Francis calls, you just have to say yes. Because you’re on the epic, life-changing adventure ride. You’re on that roller coaster. I’m ready for that.”
Blanchett’s mention of Francis is, of course, referring to legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola. While being courted for the role of Ball, the role of Arnaz was also reportedly being considered for Oscar Isaac. Both Isaac and Blanchett have since been in Coppola’s sights for his upcoming film Megalopolis. In addition to Isaac and Blanchett, the film – which tells the story of an architect who endeavours to rebuild New York City as a utopia after it has been struck by a disaster – is also rumored to star James Caan, Forest Whitaker, Zendaya and Michelle Pfeiffer. It’s unclear whether or not Blanchett turned down the Ball role in order to focus on Megalopolis, but her statement regarding Coppola makes it clear where her artistic priorities lie. And with a track record like Coppola’s, it’s hard to fault her for it.
It’s also hard not to agree with Blanchett on Being the Ricardos. For good or ill, the film did ultimately end up being the one that it needed to be. It is perhaps this sort of outlook that has helped Blanchett navigate the tricky waters of the film industry over the years, ensuring that she remains one of the most highly regarding actresses currently working. It could certainly have been interesting seeing Blanchett take on the role of Ball after her long history of playing iconic women of history, but it will be an absolute treat to see Blanchett in a Coppola film, should that become a reality.
Source: Variety
