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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,
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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,
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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,
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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,
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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,
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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,
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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,
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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
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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,
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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,
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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,
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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,
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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,
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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,
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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,
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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,
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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,
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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,
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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
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