Dolly Parton Rejected A Staggering $7 Million To Play An “Evil Witch” In Supergirl

Dolly Parton could have added "comic-book supervillain" to her dazzling résumé-but the country legend reportedly walked away from a staggering $7 million offer because she refused to let Hollywood turn her into an evil witch.

A resurfaced 1982 interview has revealed that Parton was being considered to play Selena, the magical villain in 1984's Supergirl. The extravagant role eventually went to Oscar-winning actress Faye Dunaway, but Parton apparently came much closer to entering Superman's cinematic universe than most fans ever realised.

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight while the film was still being developed, Parton revealed that producers were interested in casting her as a funny, magical witch who would become Supergirl's principal enemy. Rather than dismissing the unexpected proposition, Dolly initially appeared intrigued by the opportunity.

The singer even joked about the unusual trajectory of her film career. After playing a secretary in 9 to 5 and a brothel owner in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, becoming a witch apparently seemed like an appropriately outrageous next step.

There was, however, an immediate complication: the production required Parton to spend approximately three months filming in London. The famously hardworking entertainer was uncertain whether she wanted to leave home for that long simply to put on a costume and torment Supergirl.

But distance was not the only reason Dolly ultimately said no.

In a 1992 interview with the Chicago Tribune, Parton revealed that she had been offered an eye-watering $7 million for the role subsequently played by Dunaway. Although she admitted that the money impressed her, the proposed character apparently left her feeling insulted.

"Do I come across as an evil witch to you?" Parton recalled asking.

Dolly explained that she was not interested in portraying a character defined entirely by wickedness. She did not claim to be a perfect "goody-goody," but she believed playing a purely evil villain conflicted with her real personality and her desire to make audiences feel better.

The decision also reflected Parton's candid assessment of her acting abilities. Dolly frequently described herself as an entertainer first and an actress second. She believed her strongest performances came when filmmakers allowed her to play characters who retained something recognisably Dolly-warmth, humour, a Southern accent and a generous heart.

Selena would have been a dramatic departure. The villain uses a powerful Kryptonian object called the Omegahedron to strengthen her magic, seize control of Earth and battle Helen Slater's Supergirl. Dunaway eventually played the character with maximum theatrical extravagance, elaborate costumes and deliberately camp menace.

The casting change did not exactly hurt Parton's career. Instead of joining Supergirl, she appeared alongside Sylvester Stallone in 1984's Rhinestone and later delivered one of her most beloved performances as Truvy Jones in Steel Magnolias. Her screen credits would eventually include Straight Talk, Joyful Noise, Christmas on the Square and numerous television appearances.

It may also have been a lucky escape. Despite its famous cast, Supergirl was savaged by many critics and earned only about $14 million domestically against a reported $35 million budget. The planned franchise never materialised, while Parton continued building an entertainment empire without needing magical powers or a supervillain's wardrobe.

Still, the casting presents one irresistible Hollywood question: What would Supergirl have looked like with Dolly Parton exchanging insults and magical blasts with Helen Slater?

Dunaway's Selena was deliciously theatrical, but Dolly could have transformed the character into something entirely different-a glamorous Southern sorceress armed with towering hair, sparkling costumes and enough charisma to make audiences secretly support the villain.

Parton's refusal also reveals something important about the careful way she protected her public identity. Hollywood was offering an enormous cheque and a starring role opposite a major superhero, yet Dolly would not accept a character she believed contradicted the joy and encouragement she wanted her work to provide.

She may have rejected the opportunity to become an evil witch, but Dolly Parton still possessed something no movie prop could reproduce: the almost supernatural ability to walk into a room, charm everyone in it and leave them feeling a little happier.