# In 1987, Cher told Martin Scorsese to his face she didn’t want to work with him: “I just wanted to meet you”

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/in-1987-cher-told-martin-scorsese-to-his-face-she-didnt-want-to-work-with-him-i-just-wanted-to-meet-you/
- Published: 2026-11-04T16:45:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-05T07:37:36+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/1987-martin-scorsese-cher-didnt-want-work-with-him/
- Topics: Music

## Key points

- Cher declined Scorsese’s offer to play Mary Magdalene.
- Barbara Hershey took the role and earned a Golden Globe nomination.
- Cher won an Oscar for *Moonstruck*.

## Summary

In 1987, Cher met Martin Scorsese about playing Mary Magdalene in *The Last Temptation of Christ*, but told him she could not take the role and had come only to meet him. The refusal came during a busy year for her in film and music, and showed her willingness to choose projects on her own terms.

Scorsese cast Barbara Hershey, whose performance later earned a Golden Globe nomination. Cher went on to win the Academy Award for Best Actress for *Moonstruck*, and by 1990 her rising profile meant she was too expensive for *The Grifters*, a film Scorsese was attached to produce.

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