The 1994 movie Jamie Lee Curtis was told she was “too beautiful” to star in

Arnold Schwarzenegger initially doubted Jamie Lee Curtis was right for the role of Helen in the 1994 film *True Lies*, saying she was too beautiful to be convincing as an ordinary housewife. Director James Cameron backed Curtis and persuaded Schwarzenegger to accept her casting; the episode shows how appearance can shape decisions about film roles.

Cameron said Curtis was his first choice, but heard through Schwarzenegger’s agent that the actor was unconvinced. He asked Schwarzenegger whether he trusted him, and Schwarzenegger agreed to the casting despite a frosty meeting. After three days of filming, Schwarzenegger told Cameron, “I was wrong.”