Hollywood is known for its glitz, glamour, and the unforgettable roles that define careers and captivate audiences.
However, behind many iconic film characters lies a surprising backstory of the actors who almost brought them to life.
These are the celebrities who, for various reasons, turned down roles that later became legendary.
From scheduling conflicts to creative differences to personal choices, the reasons for their decisions are as varied as the stars themselves.
Imagine a world where John Travolta was Forrest Gump rather than Tom Hanks or Marilyn Monroe, not Audrey Hepburn, starred in Breakfast at Tiffany’s…
Weird, right?
Read on to see which actors have turned down iconic film roles over the years.
Shirley MacLaine as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s
During an interview with CBS Sunday Morning, actress Shirley MacLaine revealed she turned down the iconic role of Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
The 90-year-old admitted to the interviewer that she thought it wasn’t “much of a script,” and that she ” wasn’t all that thin at the time.”
When questioned if she ever had any regrets for turning it down she stated:
“No. I knew it was Audrey who made it happen. She was another lovely person.”
Claire Danes as Rose in Titanic
To say Titanic was a success when it was first released in 1997 would be an understatement. It broke all sorts of box office records, won 11 Oscars and catapulted its two stars Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio to unprecedented levels of fame.
However, the iconic Rose DeWitt Bukater was almost played by Claire Danes. The actress revealed during a 2020 episode of Dax Shepard’s podcast Armchair Expert that she did indeed turn the role down because she knew the film would be successful and was “not ready for” the amount of attention the Titanic would bring her.
It’s rumoured that Gwyneth Paltrow, Winona Ryder, Gabrielle Anwar and Reese Witherspoon were all considered for the role of Rose too but, like Claire, turned it down. And thank goodness! We can’t imagine anyone but Kate rocking the Heart of the Ocean.
Tom Hanks as the titular role in Jerry Maguire
We can’t imagine anyone but Tom Cruise shouting, “Show me the money!” And yet, it could’ve been Tom Hanks delivering that iconic line.
The writer/director of Jerry Maguire, Cameron Crowe, wrote the film’s script with Tom Hanks in mind for Jerry. However, Tom Hanks had to turn down the part because he was too busy working on That Thing You Do!.
Marilyn Monroe as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Arguably, Audrey Hepburn’s best role was as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. And if it’s not her best, it’s certainly her best known.
Still today, more than 60 years since the film was first released, women everywhere don pearls, grab a croissant and eat it out front of Tiffany’s in an attempt to emulate Audrey’s Holly. And yet, Truman Capote – the author who wrote the book on which Breakfast at Tiffany’s is based – wanted Marilyn Monroe to play Holly.
The film’s screenwriter George Axelrod even tailored the script to Marilyn. However, Marilyn’s acting coach Lee Strasberg convinced her to turn the role down as he felt playing an escort would be bad for her image.
Julia Roberts as Annie Reed in Sleepless in Seattle
During a 2014 interview with InStyle, Julia Roberts shared that she’d almost been in Sleepless in Seattle. “I’d been offered Sleepless in Seattle, but couldn’t do it,” she said.
“[Meg Ryan] and Tom Hanks are just such a jewel of a fit in that. I guess what they did for that moment in time is sort of what Richard [Gere] and I were doing across town, you know?,” Julia went on to say.
Hugh Jackman as James Bond in Casino Royale
Despite there being controversy when he was first cast, Daniel Craig is now considered the best Bond.
However, the world almost never saw the ‘Blond Bond’ in Casino Royale – the role was first offered to Australia’s Hugh Jackman.
In 2022, Hugh revealed to IndieWire that he was offered James Bond but turned it down because he’d already committed to play Wolverine and didn’t want to be stuck in two huge film franchises at the same time.
“I had a look at it; I was like, ‘If I’m doing that [James Bond] and Wolverine, I’ll have no time to do anything else.’ I clearly find it more interesting to play people who colour outside the lines,” he said.
John Travolta as the titular role in Forrest Gump
John Travolta was initially offered Forrest Gump but turned it down so he could instead star in Quentin Tarratino’s Pulp Fiction.
We honestly think it was for the best as Pulp Fiction completely resurrected John’s career which, at the time, was slowly starting to dwindle and also proved he had range as an actor. And Tom Hanks won the Best Actor Oscar for playing Forrest Gump.
When asked by MTV in 2007 if he regretted turning down Forrest Gump (and the role of Billy Flynn in Chicago), John said:
“No, because if I didn’t do something Tom Hanks did, then I did something else that was equally interesting or fun. Or, if I didn’t do something Richard Gere did, I did something equally well. But I feel good about some I gave up because other careers were created.”
Mark Wahlberg as either Ennis Del Mar or Jack Twist in Brokeback Mountain
Brokeback Mountain won 3 Oscars and is widely considered as a pioneering LGBTQ+ film. And the late Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal impeccably brought the wonderful but tragic love story between cowboys Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist to life.
But before Heath and Jake were cast, director Ang Lee met with Mark Wahlberg to discuss the film. Mark told WENN in 2007 that while he was never formally offered a role in the film, he would’ve turned it down anyway.
“I met with Ang Lee on that movie, I read 15 pages of the script and got a little creeped out… It was very graphic [and] descriptive; the spitting on the hand, getting ready to do the thing. I told Ang Lee, ‘I like you, you’re a talented guy, if you want to talk about it more.’ Thankfully, he didn’t,” Mark said.
