Jessica Lange Reveals She Was 'Completely Dismissed' After Her Breakout Role in 'King Kong'

“King Kong” turned Jessica Lange into a household name overnight, but as she now reveals, that didn't last long. The actress opens up about how she landed her breakout role and the disappointing years that followed the film's success.

Jessica Lange made her film debut in the massive 1976 hit, “King Kong,” but the aftermath wasn’t as promising as she expected.

Speaking on a recent episode of "Live with Kelly and Mark," the 77-year-old actress reflected on how she landed the role (which is a whole story on its own), and how the movie’s success didn’t translate to her own.

Jessica Lange attends an event celebrating FX's "American Horror Story: 13" on September 23, 2026 in New York City | Source: Getty Images

"I never imagined that my first acting job would be in a film of that magnitude," Lange told the show’s hosts Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos. She admitted it wasn’t how she thought she would be starting in the business. “It almost seems incomprehensible, something that big.”

However, Lange would eventually learn that even starring in a film as big as “King Kong” wasn’t enough to secure her future roles.

Jessica Lange sitting in King Kong's palm in the 1976 film, "King Kong" | Source: Getty Images

“The film came out and I was completely dismissed. I mean, I didn't get another offer for years," Lange said, adding, "Nobody took me seriously as an actor.” She noted that one critic, Pauline Kael, was the exception, someone she felt truly understood her work. Still, Lange said, “I didn't work for years.”

The role wasn’t supposed to even go to Lange, initially. She recalled having just moved back to New York from Paris and taking acting classes while working as a waitress when a modeling agency reached out to her. She learned Italian producer Dino De Laurentiis was searching for an unknown actress to star in the film.

Jessica Lange in a scene from 1976's "King Kong" | Source: Getty Images

She flew to Los Angeles for a screen test at MGM, a studio she'd loved since childhood, only to be turned down by producers instantly. “Yeah, they took one look at me and weren’t interested,” Lange revealed.

But Lange’s New York agent was persistent. She remembered her agent telling the producers, “‘You flew her out there. Just put her on film. Just take a look at her.” They did and eventually hired her. In a 1977 cover story with People, Lange even recalled De Laurentis telling her during filming that she was going to be “the next Marilyn Monroe.”

Jeff Brides and Jessica Lange in "King Kong," 1976 | Source: Getty Images

Looking back, Lange still harbors fond memories of "King Kong" and would watch it whenever she gets a chance. She also praised the cast, which included Jeff Bridges and Charles Grodin, describing them as “a wonderful group of actors.”