Meryl Streep recalls being told she wasn't pretty enough to be in 'King Kong'

LONDON, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- Three-time Oscar winner Meryl Streep recently revealed she didn't get a role in the 1976 version of King Kong because she wasn't pretty enough.

Streep recalled on Britain's The Graham Norton Show how decades ago a man spotted her in a play and set up a meeting between her and his father -- the successful film producer Dino De Laurentiis.

She said she walked into De Laurentiis' office and the father turned to the son and said in Italian, "Why do you bring me this ugly thing?"

As host Norton looked aghast by her story, Streep said, "Yeah, it was a sobering thing for a young girl."

She then continued, explaining she spoke Italian and told De Laurentiis: "I understand what you are saying. I'm sorry I'm not pretty enough to be in King Kong!"

The role eventually went to American Horror Story star Jessica Lange. Streep can now be seen in Into the Woods.