Ava Gardner was one of the most celebrated actresses of the mid-20th century. Although her career was embellished with notable endeavors, specifically in the 40s and the 50s, the following decade signified a time when her Hollywood stardom was beginning to dwindle. The misogynistic standards of the time prohibited actresses above 40 from retaining their grasp on important film roles.
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Whether there have been changes in the present is a matter of debate. However, at the time, Gardner knew she had to think on her feet. She decided to pursue the part of Mrs. Robinson in director Mike Nichols’ 1967 endeavor, The Graduate. Her meeting with Nichols, however, failed to yield the results she had initially expected.
Take a look.
Ava Gardner’s Unusual Meeting With Director Mike Nichols
The story in Mike Nichols’ $104M romantic drama revolves around Benjamin Braddock, embodied by Dustin Hoffman, as he gets enticed by an older, married woman named Mrs. Robinson. The protagonist later develops feelings for the seductress’ daughter, Elaine. This leads to the exploration of a complicated narrative.
Deciding to pursue the role of the older woman, Ava Gardner scheduled a meeting with the director of the project. It is believed that the Mogambo alum called up Nichols and requested the visit by stating, “I want to see you! I want to talk about this Graduate thing!” Unbeknownst to Gardner, the German-American filmmaker had already decided who’d be best suited to depict the temptress.
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However, Nichols opted to visit Gardner regardless, possibly as a polite gesture. They met in Gardner’s suite at the Regency Hotel, in New York. The recollection of what transpired during their conversation varies on both sides. As has been stated in the actress’ biography, Ava Gardner: The Secret Conversations, the director had reportedly made her cry and “wasn’t very simpatico.” As a result, she tactfully declined the film by asserting that she couldn’t act.
If we were to see it from Nichols’ perspective, then the incident unfolded differently.
Mike Nichols Recalled Ava Gardner’s Firm Declaration
According to Mike Nichols‘ recollection, the Show Boat star had made a bold declaration when touching upon the subject of the 1967 film and her potential involvement in it. In Ava Gardner: The Secret Conversations, the following is what the director remembered from the meeting:
“Theatrical and over the top, she sat at a little French desk with a telephone, she went through every movie star cliché. She said, ‘All right, let’s talk about your movie. First of all, I strip for nobody.'”
Vanity Fair’s recounting of the matter points to a similar assertion. Ava Gardner had firmly stated to Mike Nichols, “The first thing you must know is I don’t take my clothes off for anybody.” To this, the director had responded, “Well, I don’t think that would be required.”
In Nichols’ memory, Gardner had also professed her acting inabilities. She had exclaimed, “The truth is, you know, I can’t act. I just can’t act! The best have tried.” This marks the juncture at which we can see a resemblance in both accounts, despite its initial variance. The director had reportedly been star-struck by Gardner, who he deemed “incredibly sexy and gorgeous.”
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Unfortunately, Ava Gardner’s participation in the premise never materialized. Instead, Anne Bancroft had been chosen by Mike Nichols as the perfect candidate to embody the enchanting Mrs. Robinson. Missing out on the momentous endeavor may have been a regretful affair for Gardner’s dwindling, slowly declining stardom.
However, it didn’t deter the actress from seeking out other opportunities in film and television.
As for the role of Mrs. Robinson, it becomes an impossible task to picture anyone other than Bancroft embodying the alluring seductress.
The Graduate is available on Prime Video via buying/renting.
Source: Vanity Fair
