The Unknown Actress Who Dared to Turn Down Clint Eastwood
When Clint Eastwood offers you a role, you take it. But one relatively unknown actress did the unthinkable, rejecting the Hollywood legend not once, but three times. Her bold demands for a part in a major franchise would change everything.
An invitation from the celebrated director is an opportunity most performers dream of. It's a call that even established titans of the industry, like Judi Dench, have admitted to waiting their entire careers for. The man's status is so immense that saying "yes" is usually a reflex. So, who would possess the nerve to refuse him, not just once, but multiple times?
A Principled Stand
The answer is Tyne Daly. Back when casting was underway for the third Dirty Harry movie, The Enforcer, she was far from a household name. Her experience consisted mainly of guest spots on television shows and a few minor film parts. This wasn't exactly the kind of resume that gives an actor leverage against one of the most powerful figures in the business.
Nevertheless, when approached for the character of Harry Callahan's new, younger partner, Kate Moore, she declined the proposal. And then she did it again. And a third time.
Fighting for the Character
The iconic filmmaker was intrigued. “He said, ‘What are your objections?'” Daly later recounted. This opened the door for a serious conversation about the script. She had spoken with real-life policewomen and wanted to bring that authenticity to the screen. “And I said, ‘Let me confront one little bad guy.'”
Daly was unwilling to portray a token female character in a testosterone-fueled action movie. “Initially, I didn’t want to do it,” she confessed to Smashing Interviews. “I felt the part was limited and that, basically, she was a joke.” She saw the potential for more and wasn't afraid to say so.
Earning Respect
Her conviction must have made an impression, because he came back with a fourth offer. This time, she laid out her conditions. In a move few have ever managed in a project involving the Hollywood giant, she persuaded him to make significant alterations to the character in the script.
She explained that he “allowed me to influence her with what I considered to be, give her a point of view, a backbone.” This was a remarkable concession, “because he didn’t have to do that.” As Daly noted, “He could have hired some much more compliant lady.” Her decision to stick to her principles, even when it meant risking a career-making opportunity, ultimately paid off. Her subsequent six Primetime Emmy awards and a Tony prove she knew exactly what she was doing.