Pop star Britney Spears was supposed to play Allie in 'The Notebook'. Spears reportedly gave a great audition to be featured alongside Ryan Gosling in the movie set in the 1940's. The 2004 movie was based on the book of the same name. The role eventually went to Rachel McAdams. The casting director called Spears 'phenomenal'.
— ً (@cravemedia_) October 23, 2023
Other actors who auditioned for the role included Scarlett Johansson, Claire Danes, Kate Bosworth, Amy Adams, Jamie King, and Mandy Moore. In her memoir, 'The Woman in Me,' Spears says she has no resentment for turning down the role. She writes, “If I had, instead of working on my album 'In the Zone,' I'd have been acting like a 1940s heiress day and night."
She had, in 2002, acted in 'Crossroads'-- the only movie she has acted in. In the audition tape, Spears can seen saying, "I'm not staying," and "Noah, you can't marry two people. And I'm marrying Lon, so I should go, okay?" she gets emotional and says, "I prayed for you to die in the war, really... So I gotta go, okay?"
Here are other actors who turned down some major roles.
Claire Danes: Danes had already worked with Leonardo DiCaprio in Romeo + Juliette. She felt the movie would be a big success and wasn't ready for that kind of fame and hence turned down the role.
Will Smith: Will Smith was reportedly considered to play Neo in Matrix. He said he found the narration to be baffling, which didn't convey how iconic the movie would be and hence, turned it down. Reportedly, Brad Pitt too, turned down the role.
Jack Nicholson: Nicholson turned down the role of Michael Corleone in The Godfather. He thought the role should be played by an Italian actor. Also, he wanted to work directly with Marlon Brando, and there weren't any scenes that had Brando and Nicholson working closely.
Rachel McAdams: Rachel McAdams reportedly turned down the role of Andrea 'Andy' Sachs in The Devil Wears Prada. The role instead was played by Anne Hathaway, who went on to become one of the iconic characters millennials resonate with.
Emily Blunt: Emily Blunt had to turn down the role of Black Widow in Iron Man 2, as she already signed the contract to star in Gulliver's Travels. The role eventually went to Scarlett Johansson, which made her an icon.
Amanda Seyfried: Amanda Seyfried turned down the role of Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy. When Seyfried was offered the movie, which also starred Chris Pratt, she said, “Who wants to see a movie about a talking tree and a racoon?", in a later interview and admitted that she was 'clearly wrong'
Emma Watson: Harry Potter star Watson turned down the role of Mia in Oscar winner La La Land. Watson said her commitments to star in Beauty and the Beast kept her from taking up the role. The role eventually went to Emma Stone, who won an Oscar for the role.
Drew Barrymore: Drew Barrymore and reportedly, Reese Witherspoon turned down the chance to play Sidney Prescott in Scream. The role went to Neve Campbell.
Julia Roberts: In a 2014 interview, Julia Roberts, known for films like Erin Brockovich, my Best Friend's Wedding and Pretty Woman, said, that she was offered the role of Anne in Sleepless in Seattle. The role was played by Meg Ryan.
Sean Connery: Sir Sean Connery reportedly turned down the opportunity to play Gandalf in Lord of the Rings. The role went to Ian McKellen.
