She was director
Roman Polanski's first choice for the leading role in
Rosemary's Baby (1968) because he thought her pure American looks would contrast well with the film's dark undertones. The studio preferred
Mia Farrow, however, who had become a star on the enormously popular nighttime soap opera
Peyton Place (1964). A few years later Polanski wanted her to star in his film version of
The Tragedy of Macbeth (1971). She lost the part when she refused to do a nude sleepwalking scene. The role was eventually played by
Francesca Annis.
