Actress Robin Wright PENN had to turn down the chance to work with British writer/director Anthony Minghella on The English Patient because she was a new mum. The American movie star was Minghella's first choice to play KATHARINE CLIFTON in the beloved romance, but she had to decline the part. She reveals, "Anthony and I had a meeting years ago for The English Patient, and I wasn't able to do it because I'd just had a baby and they were going to North Africa for 16 weeks, which I wouldn't do." Wright Penn admits she thinks Kristin Scott Thomas, who landed the role, was perfect in the 1996 film: "She's so great in that film - nobody could have played that part (as well)... It all worked out in the end."