September 1988: Robin Wright Turns Down ‘Born on the Fourth of July’
Before Kyra Sedgwick landed the role of Donna in Oliver Stone’s acclaimed 1989 film ‘Born on the Fourth of July’, the part had first been offered to rising star Robin Wright.
Fresh off the success of ‘The Princess Bride’, Wright was gaining momentum in Hollywood, and Oliver Stone considered her a strong contender to star opposite Tom Cruise.
However, their initial meeting did not go as planned. The conversation between Wright and Stone took a negative turn, leaving the actress feeling uncomfortable and disrespected by the director’s demeanor.
Despite the prestige of the project, Wright made the bold decision to walk away from the role. She left the meeting with a sharp parting remark: “You have a problem with women. Sayonara!”
I remember being heartbroken as a kid when Robin Wright left Santa Barbara. Kelly Capwell was everything to me and none of the other actresses who played her ever came close.
But now as a longtime fan, I totally understand. Robin was never meant to stay in a soap opera forever. She was destined for something much bigger.
She’s the only one from Santa Barbara who truly made it. While most of the cast slowly disappeared from the spotlight, Robin became a major star.
She went on to have an amazing film career and gave powerhouse performances in critically acclaimed series like House of Cards. Her career just kept soaring.
40 years later she’s respected as one of the finest actresses of her generation. Honestly she’s the only real star to come out of that show and I couldn’t be prouder to be her fan.