'It's a little nude for me': Laverne & Shirley's Penny Marshall reveals she's not a Girls fan... and that Robert De Niro nearly starred in Big

PUBLISHED: 19:13 EST, 9 December 2013 | UPDATED: 19:13 EST, 9 December 2013

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In the 1970s, Laverne & Shirley made herself and Cindy Williams household names as single girls rooming and working together in Milwaukee.

But Penny Marshall refuses to watch the same scenario on Girls due to the HBO series' explicit nudity.

'Oh, I watch a lot of TV, but Girls is a little nude for me, you know? The nudity, I’m not big on nudity. I personally don’t want to shoot it,' the 70-year-old showbiz veteran told Vanity Fair.

'Girls is a little nude for me': Laverne & Shirley star Penny Marshall refuses to watch the same scenario on Girls due to the HBO series' explicit nudity

'I met [series creator Lena Dunham]. I was at dinner with Lorraine Bracco and Ilene Landress one night at Nobu and Ileen, who is a producer, she was there and brought Lena with her. So we chatted. [Lena] is a very nice girl, a very smart girl.'

Last month, the three-time Golden Globe nominee - born Carole - reunited with Cindy for the first time in 30 years for Nickelodeon's Sam & Cat.

Penny also told the magazine that Robert De Niro nearly played the lead in her 1988 film Big after first-choice Tom Hanks became unavailable.

'[Lena] is a very nice girl, a very smart girl': The 70-year-old showbiz vet has even had dinner at Nobu with series creator and star Lena Dunham

Returning January 12! Produced by Judd Apatow, Girls is characterized by its originality, explicit sex scenes, and unprecious treatment of women in their 20s in Brooklyn

However, the two-time Oscar winner wanted $6 million, which is when Hanks magically returned to the role of Josh Baskin.

Imagine the tough-guy Casino actor dancing on those oversize F.A.O. Schwartz piano keys.

'I've known Bobby for years. He has a different sense of humor but he has a sense of humor,' Marshall noted.

Same scenario: In the 1970s, Laverne & Shirley made her and Cindy Williams household names as single girls rooming and working together in Milwaukee

Hanging with Ariana Grande: Last month, the three-time Golden Globe nominee - born Carole - reunited with Cindy for the first time in 30 years for Nickelodeon's Sam & Cat

'Bob was one of the premiere actors at the time so I think that [audiences] would have paid to see him in that comedy. I wouldn't have had him make a Raging Bull face, you know? He was in Awakenings and he wasn't mean in Awakenings.'

Warren Beatty, Harrison Ford, Albert Brooks, John Travolta, Gary Busey, Dennis Quaid were some of the other leading men circling the part.

Penny became the first female to direct a movie that grossed over $100 million, and Big scored Oscar nods for Hanks and screenplay.

Imagine that! Penny also told the magazine that Robert De Niro nearly played the lead in her 1988 film Big after first-choice Tom Hanks became unavailable

Coulda, woulda, shoulda: However, the two-time Oscar winner wanted $6 million, which is when Hanks magically returned to the role of Josh Baskin

Major hit: Penny became the first female to direct a movie that grossed over $100 million, and Big scored Oscar nods for Hanks and screenplay

The Bronx-born director with the baritone voice helmed a few more features as well as episodes for Showtime's United States of Tara.

But Marshall said that A League of Their Own - which grossed $132 million in 1992 - could never get made today.

'Most of the movies I did, I could not do today,' Penny admitted.

Reteaming with Tom: The Bronx-born director said that A League of Their Own - which grossed $132 million in 1992 - could never get made today

'Because they're not horror, they’re not vampires, they're not car crashes, and they're not superheroes. I like a nice story. I have a couple of scripts but they won't get done.'

The last feature the Mary Tyler Moore actress directed was Riding in Cars with Boys starring Drew Barrymore back in 2001.

The single mother flick received dismal reviews and only earned back $35 million back of its $48 million budget.

The 25th anniversary Blu-ray version of Big will hit shelves Tuesday.

Flop: The last feature the Mary Tyler Moore actress directed was Riding in Cars with Boys starring Drew Barrymore back in 2001

Penny Marshall on Big¿s 25th Anniversary and Why She Gave Up Her Courtside Lakers Tickets

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Red, London, 9 hours ago

they were great on Sam and Cat

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Zee Chen, Bay Area Ca, United States, 10 hours ago

I totally agree with her on the nudity. Also can you even imagine Big without Tom Hanks. He made the movie. Cindy Williams looks great too.

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TheLazyComic, Atlanta, United States, 11 hours ago

I thought Penny Marshall was great first time I saw her... and that was on the TV show, The Odd Couple, back in the early 70's. Randy, The Lazy Comic.