Today's Top Stories
1
Joie de Tracee
2
SCOTUS Will Hear a Major Abortion Case
3
Our Favorite Summertime Pajamas
4
Renee Montgomery on Becoming Co-Owner of the Dream
5
5 Wellness Vacations That Aren't Wellness Retreats

50 Celebrities Who Turned Down Iconic Roles

You'll never guess who almost played Rose in 'Titanic'...😳

By Rachel Epstein
celebrities iconic roles
20th Century Fox; Getty

There's nothin' like missing out on one of the highest-grossing box office hits to make you regret that role you didn't take (we're lookin' at you, Gwyneth Paltrow). Coulda, shoulda, woulda, are we right? Ahead, 50 celebs who skipped out on iconic TV and movie roles.

Hair, Black, White, Photograph, Black-and-white, Blond, Shoulder, Lip, Photo shoot, Beauty,
Getty Images
1 of 50
Marilyn Monroe

The role: Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)

Who *actually* played it: Audrey Hepburn

Hair, Face, Fashion, Lip, Hairstyle, Eyebrow, Beauty, Haute couture, Skin, Fashion model,
Getty Images
2 of 50
Rooney Mara

The role: Maya in Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

Who *actually* played it: Jessica Chastain

Official, Chin, Forehead, White-collar worker, Premiere, Smile,
Getty Images
3 of 50
Ellen DeGeneres

The role: Phoebe in Friends (1994-2004)

Who *actually* played it: Lisa Kudrow

Hair, Suit, Facial hair, Beard, Formal wear, Tuxedo, Eyebrow, Hairstyle, Chin, Bow tie,
Getty Images
4 of 50
Ryan Gosling

The role: Christian Grey in Fifty Shades (2015)

Who *actually* played it: Jamie Dornan

Eyewear, Hair, Face, Glasses, Hairstyle, Blond, Vision care, Lip, Brown hair, Long hair,
Getty Images
5 of 50
Tea Leoni

The role: Rachel in Friends (1994-2004)

Who *actually* played it: Jennifer Aniston

Hair, Blond, Hairstyle, Clothing, Beauty, Dress, Long hair, Cocktail dress, Lip, Layered hair,
Getty Images
6 of 50
Gillian Anderson

The role: Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones (2011-present)

Who *actually* played it: Lena Headey

Hair, Suit, Bow tie, Forehead, Formal wear, Tie, Hairstyle, Chin, Eyebrow, Tuxedo,
Getty Images
7 of 50
Brad Pitt

The role: Jim Lovell in Apollo 13 (1995)

Who *actually* played it: Tom Hanks

1995 ShoWest
Jeff KravitzGetty Images
8 of 50

The role: Detective David Mills in Se7en (1995)

Who *actually* played it: Brad Pitt

"The Dark Knight Rises" Press Conference
Vera AndersonGetty Images
9 of 50

The role: Tiffany in Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

Who *actually* played it: Jennifer Lawrence

Actor Hugh Jackman arrives for the US pr
ROBYN BECKGetty Images
10 of 50

The role: James Bond in Casino Royale (2006)

Who *actually* played it: Daniel Craig

Clothing, Blazer, Outerwear, Jacket, Suit, Fashion, Top, Formal wear, Model, Photography,
Walter McBrideGetty Images
11 of 50

The role: Ren McCormack in Footloose (1984)

Who *actually* played it: Kevin Bacon

Face, Hair, Forehead, Eyebrow, Facial expression, Smile, Chin, Head, Hairstyle, Nose,
SGranitzGetty Images
12 of 50

The role: Dirk Diggler in Boogie Nights (1997)

Who *actually* played it: Mark Wahlberg

"Free Angela & All Political Prisoners" Premiere - 2012 Toronto International Film Festival
Michael TranGetty Images
13 of 50

The role: Django in Django Unchained (2012)

Who *actually* played it: Jamie Foxx

Hair, Face, Facial hair, Hairstyle, Forehead, Eyebrow, Chin, White-collar worker, Suit, Beard,
Getty Images
14 of 50
Robert Pattinson

The role: Christian Grey in Fifty Shades (2015)

Who *actually* played it: Jamie Dornan

Chin, Forehead, Official, Elder, Businessperson, Wrinkle, Suit,
Bill DavilaGetty Images
15 of 50

The role: Dumbledore in Harry Potter (2001)

Who *actually* played it: Richard Harris

Hair, Face, Forehead, Chin, Eyebrow, Head, Hairstyle, Black hair, Neck, Smile,
Bob GrantGetty Images
16 of 50

The role: Jerry Maguire in Jerry Maguire (1996)

Who *actually* played it: Tom Cruise

Hair, Face, Hairstyle, Eyebrow, Shoulder, Lip, Chin, Beauty, Long hair, Skin,
Axelle/Bauer-GriffinGetty Images
17 of 50

The role: Alex Munday in Charlie’s Angels (2000)

Who *actually* played it: Lucy Liu

CBS Summer 2002 Press Tour & Party
Jean-Paul AussenardGetty Images
18 of 50

The role: Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City (1998-2004)

Who *actually* played it: Sarah Jessica Parker

Hair, Face, Facial expression, Blond, Hairstyle, Beauty, Chin, Sitting, Cheek, Smile,
Getty Images
19 of 50
Bette Midler

The role: Sister Mary Clarence in Sister Act (1992)

Who *actually* played it: Whoopi Goldberg

Hair, Hairstyle, Face, Blond, Eyebrow, Long hair, Brown hair, Beauty, Hair coloring, Shoulder,
Getty Images
20 of 50
Emma Stone

The role: One of the women in Ghostbusters (2016)

Who *actually* played it: Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones

No English Title Available
Frank TrapperGetty Images
21 of 50

The role: Elle Woods in Legally Blonde (2001)

Who *actually* played it: Reese Witherspoon

Premiere Of FX's "Sons Of Anarchy" Season 6 - Arrivals
Frederick M. BrownGetty Images
22 of 50

The role: Christian Grey in Fifty Shades (2015)

Who *actually* played it: Jamie Dornan

LAByrinth Theater Company's 7th Annual Gala Benefit - Backstage
Bruce GlikasGetty Images
23 of 50

The role: Leigh Anne Tuohy in The Blind Side (2009)

Who *actually* played it: Sandra Bullock

Hair, Blond, Face, Hairstyle, Lip, Eyebrow, Beauty, Long hair, Chin, Brown hair,
Getty Images
24 of 50
Reese Witherspoon

The role: Sidney Prescott in Scream (1996)

Who *actually* played it: Neve Campbell

Eyewear, Hair, Glasses, Forehead, Eyebrow, Chin, Hairstyle, Facial hair, White-collar worker, Vision care,
Getty Images
25 of 50
Matthew Broderick

The role: Walter White in Breaking Bad (2008-2013)

Who *actually* played it: Bryan Cranston

Hair, Facial expression, Forehead, Hairstyle, Eyebrow, Chin, Smile, White-collar worker, Wrinkle, Comb over,
Getty Images
26 of 50
Jim Carrey

The role: Buddy in Elf (2003)

Who *actually* played it: Will Ferrell

Hair, Face, Blond, Hairstyle, Lip, Eyebrow, Chin, Shoulder, Beauty, Long hair,
Getty Images
27 of 50
Helen Mirren

The role: Ms. Weiss in Precious (2009)

Who *actually* played it: Mariah Carey

Lip, Mouth, Smile, Cheek, Hairstyle, Chin, Forehead, Eyelash, Earrings, Eyebrow,
Getty Images
28 of 50
Lucy Hale

The role: Anastasia Steele in Fifty Shades (2015)

Who *actually* played it: Dakota Johnson

Hair, Lip, Face, Hairstyle, Blond, Eyebrow, Long hair, Beauty, Chin, Brown hair,
Getty Images
29 of 50
Drew Barrymore

The role: Nomi Malone in Showgirls (1995)

Who *actually* played it: Elizabeth Berkley

Hair, Eyebrow, Hairstyle, Face, Lip, Beauty, Fashion model, Chin, Forehead, Black hair,
Getty Images
30 of 50
Katie Holmes

The role: Piper in Orange Is the New Black (2013-present)

Who *actually* played it: Taylor Schilling

Next
Celebrity Parents and Kids Dressing Like Twins
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io
More From Celebrity
Meghan and Harry Shut Down Their UK Charity
Naomi Campbell Is a First-Time Mom
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Ariana Grande Got Married Over the Weekend
Ariana Grande Quietly Married Dalton Gomez
Joie de Tracee
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck: Everything We Know
Harry & Oprah's Mental Health Doc Has a Title
Serena Williams Might Miss the Tokyo Olympics
Jennifer and Ben Have "Unreal" Chemistry Together
The Sussexes Marked Archie's Bday in a Lovely Way