Joan Rivers' daughter will star in the biopic "Joy," said a report from People. Melissa Rivers opened up about participating in the film to play her iconic mom, which was a role she initially hesitated to accept.
The movie is inspired by real-life entrepreneur Joy Mangano, who will be played by Jennifer Lawrence. Melissa Rivers will appear on the film during a reenactment from Joan Rivers' QVC show and other key scenes.
The host and executive producer of "Fashion Police" talked about how director David O. Russell offered her the part.
"It was David's idea," Joan Rivers' daughter said about portraying her mom. "I literally one day got a call saying David O. Russell would like to meet you. Huh? What?"
Melissa Rivers joked about how starring alongside top actors somewhat influenced her to join the movie.
"I thought, 'Seriously when am I ever going to get to work with Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and David O. Russell?'" she said. "I was like, 'Okay, I'm in.'"
In an interview with The Daily Beast, the 47-year-old TV personality said being Joan Rivers' daughter did not automatically mean that she was comfortable about her role.
"[I was] extremely hesitant," Melissa Rivers admitted. "It was not the automatic "yes" by any stretch of the imagination."
The only daughter of the notoriously frank comedy icon explained her reservations about playing Joan Rivers. The comedienne passed away September of last year after a botched throat operation at New York's Yorkville Endoscopy clinic, which is facing a multi-million dollar medical malpractice lawsuit.
Melissa Rivers revealed that filming for "Joy" began soon after her mom's passing. "This was shot back in the beginning of last year, and I just lost my mom," she said.
"I just didn't know if it was the right thing, or what I wanted. I was very hesitant."
She shared how "Joy" producer John Davis kept reassuring her.
"It was a discussion and a back-and-forth and finally John said to me, 'I will be there. I will protect you. I will be there every step of the way with you,'" Melissa Rivers said.
"And God bless him, he was."
