GREY GARDENS - BARRYMORE & LANGE DENY RIFT OVER GREY GARDENS

BARRYMORE & LANGE DENY RIFT OVER GREY GARDENS

GREY GARDENS co-stars DREW BARRYMORE and JESSICA LANGE have dismissed reports of a rift over the upcoming Emmy Awards nominations.
Internet gossip began circulating this week (20Apr09) suggesting the two actresses, who star in the new HBO TV movie, were feuding over which one will be considered for a Best Actress nomination at the Prime Time Emmy Awards.
Studio bosses are said to have suggested Barrymore should run for the coveted prize, leaving Lange to compete in the Best Supporting actress category - reportedly causing a spat between the two stars.
HBO executives subsequently agreed to let the pair go head-to-head in the lead category, according to New York Post gossip column PageSix..
A source tells the publication, "(Lange's) immediate reaction was that she's won two Oscars, and that she has equal screen time to Barrymore. She felt she wasn't a supporting character in the film, and that it'd be dishonest and a manipulation of votes. She didn't want a part of it."
But a representative for HBO says, "HBO would never presume to dictate which category an actor chooses for award submissions. We do engage in a dialogue with actors and filmmakers to facilitate the process, but the actor's decision is always final."
Lange also hit back at the claims - insisting the decision was never contested.
The spokesperson adds, "Prior to the decision being made, there was lots of discussion between Drew, the studio and Jessica. Obviously people wanted a scenario where everyone was happy. At the end of the day, HBO was the one who looked at the screen time and made the call."
The Emmy Awards will take place in September (09).