According to her autobiography, Carroll was considered by the films director, Otto Preminger, for the title role. She eventually played the smaller supporting role of Myrt, pal of the film's heroine.
An early contender to play the brilliantly talented Billie Holliday.
Diahann Carroll was the studio's choice for plague survivor leader "Lisa", but Charlton Heston, who exercised considerable control over casting, felt she wasn't ghetto enough, that she could not relate Lisa's experiences.
Did you know that Diahann Carroll was not the only choice for these movies?
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