adhesive technologies: Sarah Jessica Parker: Replacing Demi Moore In 'Lovelace' 'Daunting'

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Sarah Jessica Parker: Replacing Demi Moore In 'Lovelace' 'Daunting'

'Obviously the circumstances are not ideal,' actress says of quickly stepping into Gloria Steinem role.
By John Mitchell

Sarah Jessica Parker on the set of "Lovelace"
Photo: PacificCoastNews.com

Emmy winner Sarah Jessica Parker is speaking out for the first time about the difficult circumstances surrounding her casting in "Lovelace." She told "Access Hollywood" that replacing Demi Moore as Gloria Steinem in the Linda Lovelace biopic was a "daunting task" because she had so little time to prepare for the role of the feminist icon.

"I obviously conveyed to the filmmakers that I was aware and I was sorry for the reasons that they had to reach out to me," the "Sex and the City" star explained. "Also, of course, the somewhat daunting task of playing somebody with very little time [to prepare] who was obviously such an important person in the women's movement, but also played such a pivotal role in Linda's life."

Principal photography on the film had already begun when Parker was asked to step into the role of Steinem following Moore's hospitalization in late January. Paramedics responded to an emergency call made to 911 from the actress' home in Los Angeles on January 23 after friends reported that Moore was "semiconscious" and "having convulsions of some sort" after smoking an unidentified substance.

"Obviously, the circumstances are not ideal," Parker said.

The role of Steinem in "Lovelace" is small but pivotal. The Ms. magazine founder famously published the article "The Real Linda Lovelace" that revealed the abusive relationship the then-porn star, played in the film by Amanda Seyfried, had with husband Chuck Traynor (Peter Sarsgaard). Steinem went on to write the introduction to Lovelace's 1986 memoir.

"Lovelace" producer Heidi Jo Markel told People that Moore was "devastated" to lose the role. The actress earned career-best reviews for her small role in last year's Oscar-nominated "Margin Call" and was keen to sink her teeth into the dramatic part.

"It was a shock and a concern for all of us," Markel told the magazine. "We got a call from [Moore's representative] on Tuesday morning [saying], 'There's been a personal crisis and we need to let you know that.' And we were clueless. We had no idea what it entailed. We just knew she was out, that there was probably a health concern, and to move on."

Moving on meant finding a replacement in a hurry. News of Moore's departure was announced on January 25 and photos of Parker in character on the "Lovelace" set surfaced just eight days later.

Check out everything we've got on "Lovelace."

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