The 75-year-old actress said the role was written for Oscar-winning actress Faye Dunaway, reported Contactmusic.
"In Bette Midler's play... It says that I turned down 'Chinatown'... I'm mad about it with Roman Polanski but he never really offered me the part."
The 1974 film was inspired by the California Water Wars, a series of disputes over southern California water at the beginning of the 20th century.
During the same chat, she also refuted the rumour that she turned down the role of Elaine Robinson in 'The Graduate'.