Jim Henson’s bizarro fantasy film “Labyrinth” came out when Jennifer Connelly was 16. The actress’ audition, likely from early 1985, has been on YouTube for a few years, but Vanity Fair dug it up over the weekend to remind us of a young Connelly’s third starring role, after “Phenomena” and “Seven Minutes in Heaven.” The clip is cute because you can see the actress converse with imaginary fairies, but it’s especially interesting because the final moments find Connelly discussing the character with Henson.
As noted in Henson’s “Red Book,” we now know that Connelly was up against the likes of Helena Bonham Carter, Jane Krakowski, Yasmine Bleeth, Sarah Jessica Parker, Marisa Tomei, Laura Dern and Ally Sheedy for the part. Maybe it was her inquisitive nature at the audition that won over the director. No matter. It brought her face to face with David Bowie, a.k.a. the crotchety Goblin King, and for that we are forever grateful.
