John Lithgow

And, you know, when I talk about that lightning in a bottle experience of telling a story while the audience is hearing it, we were able to capture that.

Oh, the very, very happy memories.

It was a beautifully written character in the novel.

And I'd read the novel a couple of years before.

Never dreaming it would be a movie.

And I loved the character of Roberta Muldoon.

But when I was asked to go in and meet George Roy Hill, the director, who was casting World According to Garp, I couldn't figure out what part he would want me for.

And my agent's assistant said...

Well, I'm not sure because there must be a typo on the casting list.

It's the character of Roberta.

And suddenly I remembered the character and I thought, oh, my God, this is my role.

This is perfect.

I went off and I was very excited to play it because I loved the character in the book.

Went off and met with George Roy Hill and the great casting director, Marion Daugherty.

who had fingered me for this role, and George ruled it out immediately.

He felt I was too tall and pairing me next to Robin would be too comical.

And so I was very disappointed.

And about eight months passed, during which time he must have seen a hundred people for the role of Roberta Muldoon, including genuine athletes and genuine transgender women and

actors of all stripes.

They kept on looking and finally came back to me.