Who knew Ingrid Bergman ever considered monkeying around with her image?
Revered actress Ingrid Bergman's greatest regret during her illustrious career was turning down the opportunity to appear in Planet Of The Apes. The Casablanca star was offered a part in the 1968 movie opposite Charlton Heston and, according to her actress daughter Isabella Rossellini, was keen to appear so she could "disregard her regal bearing". Rossellini tells London's Time Out newspaper, "She badly regretted turning down a part in the Planet Of The Apes franchise."
I have to assume she was talking about the role of animal psychologist Dr. Zira, which ended up going to Kim Hunter (A Streetcar Named Desire).
Ingrid Bergman as Zira...just imagine:
ZIRA
But what about us?
TAYLOR
We'll always have the Forbidden Zone.
TAYLOR
Dr. Zira, I'd like to kiss you goodbye.
ZIRA
I'd like for you to kiss me, kiss me as if it were the last time, but...you're so damned ugly.
TAYLOR
Where have you been, why...?
ZIRA
Why is there no other ape in my life?
TAYLOR
Yes.
ZIRA
That's easy, there is. Dr. Cornelius.
ZIRA
Who is he?
GALEN
Well, Dr. Zaius is the kind of orangutan that...well, if I were a female orangutan, I should be in love with Dr. Zaius. But what a fool I am talking to a beautiful chimpanzee about another ape.
I smell Oscar. Or maybe it's just the stinking paws of a damn, dirty ape.
Funny stuff!