Why ‘Little House on the Prairie’ Alum Melissa Sue Anderson Turned Down a Major Film Role That Went to Brooke Shields

Melissa Sue Anderson portrayed pioneer Mary Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie for eight seasons. Working closely with executive producer and co-star Michael Landon (Charles Ingalls), Anderson was quite comfortable playing the wholesome character. As her fame grew, the Little House star received an offer that could have brought her to A-list status but decided to pass.

Melissa Sue Anderson started fielding film offers

Anderson was looking to stretch her acting wings during her seasons on Little House and was presented with a film role shooting in Canada before season 7.

“In the spring of 19880, I got some of the best news I had ever gotten,” Anderson wrote in her memoir, The Way I See It. “I was set to star in my first feature film, Happy Birthday To Me, for Columbia Pictures and directed by J. Lee Thompson of Guns of Navarone fame.”

While she was still under contract with Little House, Anderson was in fewer episodes as the seasons passed and was able to get time away from the historical drama.

“This time it wasn’t as difficult to solve the scheduling conflict with Little House because I simply wasn’t in as many episodes that season,” she remarked. “I was also lucky that the majority of shows were already set to be filmed after I would have finished shooting the movie.”

‘Little House’ star said no to ‘The Blue Lagoon’

Anderson revealed that she was receiving interest from film producers even before Happy Birthday To Me came along.

“This was not the first time I’d been offered the lead in a feature film,” Anderson shared. “I was originally asked to play the role Brooke Shields made famous in The Blue Lagoon a couple of years earlier.”

Despite the boost it would have given Anderson’s career, the Little House alum had her reasons for saying no.

“I was uncomfortable with the nudity,” she explained. “Not to mention the fact that I had a morals clause in my NBC contract. So I politely turned it down.”

Melissa Sue Anderson went rogue with her hair before her ‘Little House’ return

After filming Happy Birthday To Me, the former Little House star decided to “take the plunge” and cut several inches of her hair. Sporting a new short ‘do, Anderson was thrilled with the results but not looking forward to telling her bosses on Little House. Though she didn’t get permission from anyone for the drastic change, Anderson gave the show’s hairdresser a heads-up.

“[Stylist Larry Germain] measured me for a long wig (for those bed scenes) and also for a piece that would be my ‘knot’ or bun on the back of my head,” Anderson wrote. “Whew! What a relief to have that over with.”

While Anderson originally thought she was in the clear with her little act of rebellion, she got somewhat of a comeuppance in the long run.

“I should have known I’d gotten off too easy,” the Little House actor remarked. “My punishment was that once they’d styled my short pieces, pinning and pinning and tucking them in, I looked like I had a mushroom on my head. Uggh. Awful. Just awful. … Gone were the days of going out right after work.”

Anderson added,” I could feel a few pangs of regret beginning to creep my way.”