Orson Welles originally cast Lea as Desdemona in his 1952 film
production of Othello back in 1948. After Welles began the filming in
Venice, producer Montatori Scalera informed Welles that he wanted to
make Verdi's opera, not the Shakespearean play, so the money ran out
and the movie was shelved. By the time the movie was made years later
Lea had been replaced by Suzanne Cloutier.