MovieChat Forums > Castaway (1987) Discussion > Why not cast Theresa Russell?

Why not cast Theresa Russell?


In every other film Nic Roeg made duing the 1980s he cast his wife, Theresa Russell. This is his only film of the decade in which she does not appear? Does anybody know the reason? At first I thought it might have been an age issue, but Russell was 28/29 when the film was shot and Irvine herself was 24/25 during the year on Tuin, so she was in the right age range. It could have been the nudity, but she had no problem with nudity in films like Bad Timing and Eureka. A scheduling clash is possible I suppose, but considering her husband was directing the film I am reasonably confident he would have accommodated the scheduling conflict.

Not that I'm complaining because I think Amanda Donohoe did a great job, but I would have been interested in seeing Russell's take on the character. I think she's a superior actress and there is even a strong physical resemblance between Russell and Irvine:

Irvine: http://pictures.historicimages.net/pictures/_2/1709/1708681.jpg
Russell: https://www.picsofcelebrities.com/celebrity/theresa-russell/pictures/large/theresa-russell-young.jpg

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