Debra Winger has set the record straight over why she quit her starring role in director Penny Marshall’s beloved 1992 baseball film, “A League of Their Own.”
The two-time Oscar-winning actress Winger, 66, told Britain’s Daily Telegraph she objected to Madonna’s casting because it made the project “an Elvis film” and was not what she signed up for. Madonna, now 63, was cast as center fielder Mae Mordabito in the story of the first female professional baseball league.
“The studio agreed with me because it was the only time I ever collected a pay-or-play on my contract,” Winger said. “In other words, I collected my pay even though I did not play, and that’s very hard to get in a court.”
Geena Davis: The actress spills ‘League of Their Own’ secrets on film’s 25th anniversary
In one of her most celebrated roles, Geena Davis took over from Winger’s role as catcher Dottie Hinson, the heart of “League.” The sports comedy-drama stars Lori Petty as pitcher Kit Keller, Rosie O’Donnell as Doris Murphy and Tom Hanks as manager Jimmy Dugan.
Winger said she was ultimately dismayed by the film. In her opinion, the story did not appropriately honor the original, real-life players.
“As entertaining as (the final film) was, you don’t walk away going ‘Wow, those women did that.’ You kind of go ‘Is that true?’ ” Winger said.
Winger, who trained with the Chicago Cubs for three months for the role, said the actors did not train long enough to look convincing playing baseball onscreen — except for Petty and Davis who “did OK,” she admits.
“I certainly don’t begrudge any of them,” Winger said.
“A League of Their Own” made history as the first movie directed by a woman to gross $100 million at the box office and was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2012.
Marshall, who died in 2018, said she had considered Demi Moore for the lead role, but Moore was pregnant at the time.
Davis told USA TODAY in 2017 that she, too, had questions about the Madonna casting before filming. “She was Madonna. We wondered if we were going to be able to talk to her. Was she going to have an entourage? Were they going to put up walls around her where she stands?” Davis recalled feeling of the superstar co-star.
Ultimately, Madonna was a team player who trained hard and insisted on sliding head-first into bases. “That was painful. But she was so game. She was a trooper,” Davis said.
As for Madonna’s ultimate performance? Winger was slightly less direct in her interview criticism.
“I think (her) acting career has spoken for itself,” Winger said of Madonna.
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