01of 15Jessica BielKevin Mazur/GettyBiel must have a thing for formerMickey Mouse Clubstars: She’s married toJustin Timberlake, and once hoped to play Allie opposite Ryan Gosling’s Noah inThe Notebook,she toldElle. (Other candidates for the job included Britney Spears and, reportedly, Reese Witherspoon.)“The Notebook[is a film] that I wanted so badly,” Biel said. “I was in the middle of shootingTexas Chainsaw Massacre, and I auditioned with Ryan Gosling in my trailer—covered in blood. [Director] Nick Cassavetes put me through the wringer in an interesting, excitingly creative way. But there’s a million that get away. We’re gluttons for punishment. It’s just rejection.”
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Jessica Biel
Kevin Mazur/Getty
Biel must have a thing for formerMickey Mouse Clubstars: She’s married toJustin Timberlake, and once hoped to play Allie opposite Ryan Gosling’s Noah inThe Notebook,she toldElle. (Other candidates for the job included Britney Spears and, reportedly, Reese Witherspoon.)
“The Notebook[is a film] that I wanted so badly,” Biel said. “I was in the middle of shootingTexas Chainsaw Massacre, and I auditioned with Ryan Gosling in my trailer—covered in blood. [Director] Nick Cassavetes put me through the wringer in an interesting, excitingly creative way. But there’s a million that get away. We’re gluttons for punishment. It’s just rejection.”
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TIFFANI THIESSEN, FRIENDS
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic; NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty
The one whereTiffani Thiessenalmost played Rachel?
But the actress has no hard feelings about missing out on the role, calling Aniston’s performance “very, very funny.” Thiessen went on to land the role of Valerie Malone onBeverly Hills, 90210.
03of 15JOE MANGANIELLO, SPIDER-MANDesiree Navarro/WireImageIn a video interview with IMDb, Manganiello revealed that he had auditioned for 2002’sSpider-Manon his third day of living in L.A., trying out for the role of Peter Parker, which ultimately went to Tobey Maguire. But there’s no hard feelings though! The actor ended up playing Flash, Mary Jane’s (Kirsten Dunst) boyfriend, in the film.
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JOE MANGANIELLO, SPIDER-MAN
Desiree Navarro/WireImage
In a video interview with IMDb, Manganiello revealed that he had auditioned for 2002’sSpider-Manon his third day of living in L.A., trying out for the role of Peter Parker, which ultimately went to Tobey Maguire. But there’s no hard feelings though! The actor ended up playing Flash, Mary Jane’s (Kirsten Dunst) boyfriend, in the film.
04of 15IDRIS ELBA, BEAUTY AND THE BEASTJamie McCarthy/Getty ImagesTheBritish actorwas all about prepping his pipes for the 2017 live action remake of the Disney classic. “I honestly love musicals. I auditioned forBeauty and the Beast. I really did, for Gaston,“Elba told PEOPLE in September 2017. “I called and said, ‘Listen, I want in!’ They were like, ‘…Okay.’ So somewhere they have a tape of me singing.“Even though he didn’t snatch the coveted role, the good-spirited star said he has no hard feelings toward Luke Evans, who nabbed the part of Gaston.
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IDRIS ELBA, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
TheBritish actorwas all about prepping his pipes for the 2017 live action remake of the Disney classic. “I honestly love musicals. I auditioned forBeauty and the Beast. I really did, for Gaston,“Elba told PEOPLE in September 2017. “I called and said, ‘Listen, I want in!’ They were like, ‘…Okay.’ So somewhere they have a tape of me singing.”
Even though he didn’t snatch the coveted role, the good-spirited star said he has no hard feelings toward Luke Evans, who nabbed the part of Gaston.
05of 15EDDIE REDMAYNE, STAR WARSDave Benett/Getty Images for Audi UKRedmaynealmost joined the dark side for the franchise’s 2015 reboot. Hetold Uproxxall about his failed audition for the then-top secret role (later revealed to be Kylo Ren, a part that went toAdam Driver).“With films that top secret, they don’t give you the actual lines. So they give you a scene fromPride and Prejudice, but then they tell you you’re auditioning for the baddie,” he explained. “If you’re me, you then put some ridiculous voice on … [The casting director] was just sitting there, and I was trying again and again with different versions of my kind of ‘koohh paaaah’ [Darth Vader breathing sound] voice. And after like 10 shots she’s like, ‘You got anything else?’ I was like, ‘No.'”
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EDDIE REDMAYNE, STAR WARS
Dave Benett/Getty Images for Audi UK
Redmaynealmost joined the dark side for the franchise’s 2015 reboot. Hetold Uproxxall about his failed audition for the then-top secret role (later revealed to be Kylo Ren, a part that went toAdam Driver).
“With films that top secret, they don’t give you the actual lines. So they give you a scene fromPride and Prejudice, but then they tell you you’re auditioning for the baddie,” he explained. “If you’re me, you then put some ridiculous voice on … [The casting director] was just sitting there, and I was trying again and again with different versions of my kind of ‘koohh paaaah’ [Darth Vader breathing sound] voice. And after like 10 shots she’s like, ‘You got anything else?’ I was like, ‘No.'”
06of 15MILLIE BOBBY BROWN, LOGANKevin Mazur/WireImageWhile the actress was catapulted to fame with her role in Netflix’sStranger Things, Brown still considers her audition to play Hugh Jackman’s pint-sized partner-in-crime in Logan her most memorable one yet — despite losing out on the opportunity to newcomer Dafne Keen. “I went for it. It meant so much to me,” Brown told Evan Rachel Wood of her audition during an interview forVariety. “I was filmingStranger Things, and I was like, ‘This is gonna be amazing, I’m gonna really prepare,’ and I sat in my room reading the lines. And honestly, for me, I felt so – I felt an actor, in the audition room, hitting Hugh Jackman, and [director] James Mangold sitting right in front of me.”
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MILLIE BOBBY BROWN, LOGAN
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
While the actress was catapulted to fame with her role in Netflix’sStranger Things, Brown still considers her audition to play Hugh Jackman’s pint-sized partner-in-crime in Logan her most memorable one yet — despite losing out on the opportunity to newcomer Dafne Keen. “I went for it. It meant so much to me,” Brown told Evan Rachel Wood of her audition during an interview forVariety. “I was filmingStranger Things, and I was like, ‘This is gonna be amazing, I’m gonna really prepare,’ and I sat in my room reading the lines. And honestly, for me, I felt so – I felt an actor, in the audition room, hitting Hugh Jackman, and [director] James Mangold sitting right in front of me.”
07of 15DWAYNE JOHNSON, JACK REACHERKevin Winter/Getty ImagesIn response to a fan’s tweet asking, “Why isn’t @TheRock Jack Reacher?” the wrestler-turned-actor made a revealing admission. “Yup, luv the character,“Johnson wroteof the titular character in theJack Reacherfilm franchise, adapted from Lee Child’s popular crime novels. “Bout 10yrs ago I went after the role, but [Tom Cruise] got it. Was great motivation for me to always stay hungry.”
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DWAYNE JOHNSON, JACK REACHER
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
In response to a fan’s tweet asking, “Why isn’t @TheRock Jack Reacher?” the wrestler-turned-actor made a revealing admission. “Yup, luv the character,“Johnson wroteof the titular character in theJack Reacherfilm franchise, adapted from Lee Child’s popular crime novels. “Bout 10yrs ago I went after the role, but [Tom Cruise] got it. Was great motivation for me to always stay hungry.”
08of 15MINDY KALING, BRIDESMAIDSMichael Kovac/Getty Images for The Paley Center For MediaFact: The only thing that would have madeBridesmaidseven better is ifKaling scored a part in the 2011 smash-hit— a goalThe Mindy Projectwriter-creator also had in mind. “It was for Maya Rudolph’s part,” the actress said, revealing she had auditioned for the comedy film. “I practiced it so much and was so into it and I loved that whole cast … That was one that was a heartbreaker.”
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MINDY KALING, BRIDESMAIDS
Michael Kovac/Getty Images for The Paley Center For Media
Fact: The only thing that would have madeBridesmaidseven better is ifKaling scored a part in the 2011 smash-hit— a goalThe Mindy Projectwriter-creator also had in mind. “It was for Maya Rudolph’s part,” the actress said, revealing she had auditioned for the comedy film. “I practiced it so much and was so into it and I loved that whole cast … That was one that was a heartbreaker.”
09of 15MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY, TITANICVivien Killilea/GettyWhile we can’t imagine anyone butLeonardo DiCapriowooing Kate Winslet’s character in 1997’sTitanic, McConaughey was a serious contender at the time, having almost landed the role. “It was one of those auditions where I left and thought I had it,“he toldPlayboyof his audition. “I really enjoyed it. Kate Winslet really enjoyed it. That was a huge opportunity. But [James] Cameron likedLeonardo DiCapriobetter.”
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MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY, TITANIC
Vivien Killilea/Getty
While we can’t imagine anyone butLeonardo DiCapriowooing Kate Winslet’s character in 1997’sTitanic, McConaughey was a serious contender at the time, having almost landed the role. “It was one of those auditions where I left and thought I had it,“he toldPlayboyof his audition. “I really enjoyed it. Kate Winslet really enjoyed it. That was a huge opportunity. But [James] Cameron likedLeonardo DiCapriobetter.”
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MILES TELLER, LA LA LAND
Jeff Bottari/WireImage
11of 15GWEN STEFANI, MR. & MRS. SMITHJames Devaney/GC"I feel like I almost got it,” Stefani revealed about trying out for the role of Jane Smith, which ultimately went toAngelina Jolie. “I went to a bunch of auditions.”
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GWEN STEFANI, MR. & MRS. SMITH
James Devaney/GC
“I feel like I almost got it,” Stefani revealed about trying out for the role of Jane Smith, which ultimately went toAngelina Jolie. “I went to a bunch of auditions.”
12of 15ALEC BALDWIN, SEX AND THE CITYDennis van Tine/Sipa USABefore Chris Noth filled in Mr. Big’s shoes inSex and the City, creator Darren Star had someone different in mind for the role of Carrie Bradshaw’s love interest. “I was thinking of Alec Baldwin for Big initially,“Star toldEntertainment Weekly. “But I met with Chris Noth and thought he was perfect. I remember the first table read, how good he was. I’m not saying that Chris was Mr. Big, but he brought a lot of his own persona to the role.”
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ALEC BALDWIN, SEX AND THE CITY
Dennis van Tine/Sipa USA
Before Chris Noth filled in Mr. Big’s shoes inSex and the City, creator Darren Star had someone different in mind for the role of Carrie Bradshaw’s love interest. “I was thinking of Alec Baldwin for Big initially,“Star toldEntertainment Weekly. “But I met with Chris Noth and thought he was perfect. I remember the first table read, how good he was. I’m not saying that Chris was Mr. Big, but he brought a lot of his own persona to the role.”
13of 15OLIVIA WILDE, THE WOLF OF WALL STREETMargot Robbiemay have landedThe Wolf of Wall Street— the film that catapulted the Aussie actress to stardom — oppositeLeonardo DiCaprio, but Wilde revealed onThe Howard Stern Showthat she missed out on the opportunity due to her age. “I heard that I was too sophisticated [for the part]. I thought, ‘oh, that sounds nice. I like that feedback. I didn’t get the part but I’m a very sophisticated person,’ " she said. “And then I found out later they actually said old.” But Wilde has no hard feelings: “I thought she kicked so much ass in that movie.”
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OLIVIA WILDE, THE WOLF OF WALL STREET
Margot Robbiemay have landedThe Wolf of Wall Street— the film that catapulted the Aussie actress to stardom — oppositeLeonardo DiCaprio, but Wilde revealed onThe Howard Stern Showthat she missed out on the opportunity due to her age. “I heard that I was too sophisticated [for the part]. I thought, ‘oh, that sounds nice. I like that feedback. I didn’t get the part but I’m a very sophisticated person,’ " she said. “And then I found out later they actually said old.” But Wilde has no hard feelings: “I thought she kicked so much ass in that movie.”
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JOSH HUTCHERSON, THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN
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AMY SCHUMER, GIRLS
Raymond Hall/GC Images
source: people.com
