Top 20 Actresses Who Turned Down Big Roles of Hollywood Blockbuster Movies

For those of us who work normal, nine-to-five jobs in our unimpressive offices, it’s easy to imagine the job of an actor or actress as, well… easy. But on top of difficult tasks like gaining 15 lbs. for a movie role or deciding which eye drops to use to help the believability of a forced cry, actors have to deal with the immense pressure of choosing (or passing on) the right roles.

And they don’t always get those choices right: We’ve seen some terrific talents reduced to forgettable characters by misguided directors or underwhelming screenplays (Both Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones fell victim in Hope Springs). What we don’t get to see are the good choices that aren’t made, the opportunities that actors pass up. Though it’d be impossible to list every major part passed up by a notable name, we’ve compiled a list of 20 of the biggest roles turned down by big-name stars.
Keep reading to see the roles that could've been played by different actors.

20- Anne Hathaway

Birth Name: Anne Jacqueline Hathaway

Age: 37, born 12 November 1982

Born and residing in:  United States

Height: 5' 8"

Relationship Status: Married

Partner: Adam Shulman

Anne Hathaway turned down Jennifer Lawrence's role in "Silver Linings Playbook".

19- Halle Berry

Birth Name: Maria Halle Berry

Age: 53, born 14 August 1966

Born and residing in:  United States

Height: 5' 5"

Relationship Status: Single

Halle Berry was offered Sandra Bullock's role before her for the movie "Speed".

Who do you think would've been better?

18- Sandra Bullock

Birth Name: Sandra Annette Bullock

Age: 55, born 26 July 1964

Country of origin:  United States

Height: 5' 7"

Relationship Status: In a relationship

Partner: Bryan Randall

Sandra Bullock was offered the role of Neo in "The Matrix".

That could've been hot.

17- Kate Hudson

Birth Name: Kate Garry Hudson

Age: 40, born 19 April 1979

Country of origin:  United States

Currently Residing In:  United Kingdom

Height: 5' 6"

Relationship Status: In a relationship

Partner: Danny Fujikawa

Kate Hudson was offered Julia Stiles role in "10 Things I Hate About You".

16- Evan Rachel

Birth Name: Evan Rachael Wood

Age: 32, born 7 September 1987

Born and residing in:  United States

Height: 5' 7"

Relationship Status: Single

Evan Rachel Wood offered a main role in "Mean Girls"

15- Sarah Michelle Gellar

Birth Name: Sarah Michelle Gellar

Age: 42, born 14 April 1977

Born and residing in:  United States

Height: 5' 2"

Relationship Status: Married

Partner: Freddie Prinze Jr.

Sarah Michelle Gellar turned down Alicia Silverstone's role in "Clueless".

14- Julia Roberts

Birth Name: Julia Fiona Roberts

Age: 52, born 28 October 1967

Born and residing in:  United States

Height: 5' 9"

Relationship Status: Married

Partner: Daniel Moder

Julia Roberts turned down Sandra Bullock's role in "The Blinde Side"

13- Jennifer Connelly

Birth Name: Jennifer Lynn Connelly

Age: 48, born 12 December 1970

Born and residing in:  United States

Height: 5' 6"

Relationship Status: Married

Partner: Paul Bettany

Jennifer Connelly and Sarah Jessica Parker turned down Winona Ryder's role in "Beetlejuice".

12- Gwyneth Paltrow

Birth Name: Gwyneth Kate Paltrow

Age: 47, born 27 September 1972

Country of origin:  United States

Currently Residing In:  United Kingdom

Height: 5' 9"

Relationship Status: Married

Partner: Brad Falchuk

Gwyneth Paltrow turned down Kate Winslet's role in "Titanic".

11- Michelle Phieffer

Birth Name: Michelle Marie Pfeiffer

Age: 61, born 29 April 1958

Country of origin:  United States

Height: 5' 8"

Relationship Status: Married

Partner: David E. Kelley

Michelle Phieffer turned down Jodie Foster's role in "The Silence of the Lambs".

10- Kate Winslet

Birth Name: Kate Elizabeth Winslet

Age: 44, born 5 October 1975

Born and residing in:  United Kingdom

Height: 5' 6"

Relationship Status: Married

Partner: Ned Rocknroll

Kate Winslet turned down Gwyneth Paltrow's role in "Shakespeare in Love".

9- Nicole Kidman

Birth Name: Nicole Mary Kidman

Age: 52, born 20 June 1967

Born and residing in:  United States

Height: 5' 11"

Relationship Status: Married

Partner: Keith Urban

Nicole Kidman got pregnant and dropped out of Kate Winslet's role in "The Reader".

8- Angela Basset

Birth Name: Angela Evelyn Bassett

Age: 61, born 16 August 1958

Country of origin:  United States

Height: 5' 4"

Relationship Status: Married

Partner: Courtney B. Vance

Angela Basset turned down Halle Berry's role in "Monster's Ball".

7- Sandra Bullock

Birth Name: Sandra Annette Bullock

Age: 55, born 26 July 1964

Country of origin:  United States

Height: 5' 7"

Relationship Status: In a relationship

Partner: Bryan Randall

Sandra Bullock dropped out of Hilary Swank's role in "Million Dollar Baby".

6-Anne Hathaway

Birth Name: Anne Jacqueline Hathaway

Age: 37, born 12 November 1982

Born and residing in:  United States

Height: 5' 8"

Relationship Status: Married

Partner: Adam Shulman

Anne Hathaway turned down Katherine Heigl's role in "Knocked Up" and "Silver Linings Playbook".

5-Emily Blunt 

Birth Name: Emily Olivia Leah Blunt

Age: 36, born 23 February 1983

Country of origin:  United Kingdom

Currently Residing In:  United States

Height: 5' 7"

Relationship Status: Married

Partner: John Krasinski

Emily Blunt turned down Scarlett Johansson's role of Black Widow in "Iron Man 2".

4-Lindsay Lohan

Birth Name: Lindsay Dee Lohan

Age: 33, born 2 July 1986

Born and residing in:  United States

Height: 5' 5"

Relationship Status: Single

Lindsay Lohan turned down Heather Graham's role in "The Hangover".

3-Angelina Jolie

Birth Name: Angelina Jolie Voight

Age: 44, born 4 June 1975

Born and residing in:  United States

Height: 5' 8"

Angelina Jolie turned down Sandra Bullock's role in "Gravity".

2-Natalie Portman

Birth Name: Natalie Hershlag

Age: 38, born 9 June 1981

Country of origin:  Israel

Currently Residing In:  France

Height: 5' 3"

Relationship Status: Married

Partner: Benjamin Millepied

Natalie Portman turned down Rooney Mara's role in "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo".

1-Rachel McAdams

Birth Name: Rachel Anne McAdams

Age: 40, born 17 November 1978

Country of origin:  Canada

Currently Residing In:  United States

Height: 5' 4"

Relationship Status: In a relationship

Partner: Jamie Linden

Rachel McAdams turned down Anne Hathaway's role in "The Devil Wears Prada".



Who do you think made the biggest mistake?