The role of RP McMurphy in 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' required an actor of high caliber. Somehow, they had to make the career criminal lovable and relatable, and bring color to an extremely difficult topic. Only the best of the best were considered, and the charismatic Jack Nicholson took home a 'Best Actor' Oscar for his terrific performance. Gene Hackman was in the audience that night, applauding and regretting his life choices.
Hackman had been offered Nicholson's part, feeling burnt-out from filming 'The French Connection' and wanting to take a longer break before stepping back in front of the cameras. If he wanted someone to share his regrets with, he could have found the legendary Marlon Brando for a chat - Brando passed on the role as well! Hackman's career turned out just fine in the long run, but McMurphy is the kind of part that any actor should want.
Chefs made their way into celebrity land a while ago. But how many celebrities that weren’t trained as professional cooks are actually whizzes in the kitchen? Here are several that come to mind.
Actress Julia Roberts is confident about her cooking skills. “I’m quite a good cook,” she told E! News. “I’m like a closet home ec teacher…I can really cook anything.” Roberts has said she often cooks fish for herself and her kids. And speaking of her three children, “They think that I’m a good cook,” Roberts told People. “They actually told me that I should open a restaurant.” She also relishes cooking for the holidays, particularly shredded Brussel sprouts. Roberts hasn’t published a cookbook, but we did find recipes attributed to her for peach crisp and banana hemp muffins. Or you can make the same summer salad the actress supposedly eats.
Chrissy Teigen started off as a supermodel. Then her love of cooking filtered into her professional life too. At this point, she’s created recipes for a limited Blue Apron release and also just launched her own home and cooking line at Target named “Cravings,” after the two cookbooks she’s released. Teigen describes cooking as “a time of peace” for herself. So maybe peace out to her tuna melt sandwich or the fried chicken wings that are a favorite of her husband, John Legend.
Lady Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, comes from a cooking Italian family. Her father started his own restaurant in New York and also published a cookbook. And apparently, Lady Gaga has inherited the family’s cooking genes. Her Instagram account occasionally features photos of her culinary activities. Sure, sometimes it’s topless cooking. But other times it’s more poignant like in the post she shared about her bringing food to the family of her dear friend who passed away. Want to try a Gaga/Germanotta family favorite? Check out her recipe for whole wheat pasta with a sweet fennel sauce.