20 Female Movie Characters That Could’ve Been Completely Different

When a female character is famously played by a certain actress, it’s hard to imagine other versions of the role. We are thankful that the cast below didn’t come true, because the results might have been disasters to both the movies and the actresses. Let’s have a look at a group of actresses who could have played the leading female roles in famous movies, and imagine how many of them could actually work.

1. Gwyneth Paltrow as Rose DeWitt Bukater in Titanic.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth was James Cameron’s first choice to play Rose — she turned it down. She reportedly told the press that the movie wasn’t her “cup of tea.” So now the real question: Would we hate Gwyneth as much as we do if she had been cast in one of the most beloved films of all time?

2. Natalie Portman as Juliet Capulet in Romeo + Juliet.

Natalie Portman

Natalie had been cast in the role, but after production began, Baz Luhrmann felt that due to her and Leonardo DiCaprio’s age difference, the footage shot made it look as though Leo was “molesting” her.

3. Halle Berry as Annie Porter in Speed.

Halle Berry

Halle turned down the role that made Sandra Bullock a star.

4. Emma Thompson as Catherine Tramell in Basic Instinct.

Emma Thompson

Emma was considered for the role but reportedly passed on the chance so she could work on Howards End. Emma commented years later, “I could never have pulled it off — excuse the expression — as good as Sharon.”

5. Michelle Pfeiffer as Clarice Starling in The Silence of the Lambs.

Michelle Pfeiffer

Jodi Foster’s Oscar-winning role could have gone to Michelle Pfeiffer, who was offered the role first, but she reportedly turned it down due to the violent story line.

6. Julia Roberts as Viola De Lesseps in Shakespeare in Love.

Julia Roberts

Julia Roberts was originally signed to star in the movie in 1993 but left the project after Daniel Day-Lewis declined to play the part of Shakespeare.

7. Annette Bening as Catwoman in Batman Returns.

Annette Bening

Annette Bening was originally cast to play Catwoman but was replaced by Michelle Pfeiffer when she became pregnant a few weeks before filming began.

8. Britney Spears as Allie Hamilton in The Notebook.

Britney Spears

According to reports, Britney was very close to getting the role — without a doubt, producers were looking to tap into her fan base. But can you really imagine this role with anyone other than Rachel McAdams? Think about it… Or maybe it’s best if you don’t.

9. Sarah Michelle Gellar as Cher Horowitz in Clueless.

Sarah Michelle

Sarah was originally supposed to play Cher but had to turn down the role due to a scheduling conflict with her TV work on All My Children.

10. Molly Ringwald as Vivian Ward in Pretty Woman.

Molly Ringwald

Yup, Molly reportedly turned down the role that catapulted Julia Roberts to superstardom.

11. Bette Midler as Deloris Van Cartier/Sister Mary Clarence in Sister Act.

Bette Midler

Bette was originally in talks to play the role but backed out because she reportedly didn’t want to portray a nun.

12. Marilyn Monroe as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Marilyn Monroe

In one of the most iconic scenes in film history, it would be impossible to think of anybody other than Audrey Hepburn wearing the “Little Black Dress” while looking into the window of Tiffany’s. Well, if it had been up to the author of the books on which the movie is based, Truman Capote, it would have been Marilyn. In fact, he wrote the book with her as the character in mind. Even the movie’s screenwriter, George Axelrod, wrote the script tailored to her.

Marilyn was actually talked out of taking the role by her acting coach, Lee Strasberg — he felt that playing a prostitute would be bad for her image.

When Audrey was cast, Capote remarked: “Paramount double-crossed me in every way and cast Audrey.”

13. Diana Ross as Rachel Marron in The Bodyguard.

Diana Ross

Lawrence Kasdan’s script for The Bodyguard was first pitched around in 1975. The studio involved wanted Diana for the lead role and Steve McQueen in the Kevin Costner role. (I, for one, would really like to have seen this version.)

Unfortunately, the movie fell apart in the development stage — and another 57 times — before it was finally made in 1992.

14. Madonna as Ginger McKenna in Casino.

Madonna

Sharon Stone got a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her performance in Casino, but it never would have happened if Martin Scorsese had gone with his original choice for the role, Madonna.

15. Drew Barrymore as Nomi Malone in Showgirls.

Drew Barrymore

Drew reportedly passed on the role due to the amount of nudity that would be required. Also, producers wanted Madonna in the role of Cristal Conners — which might have taken the movie to a new level of camp.

16. Charlize Theron as Roxie Hart in Chicago.

Charlize Theron

Charlize had the role of Roxie Hart, while Nicholas Hytner was attached as director. When Hytner left the project and Rob Marshall took over, Charlize had to audition again and ended up losing the role to Renée Zellweger.

17. Reese Witherspoon as Sidney Prescott in Scream.

Reese Witherspoon

After Drew Barrymore was forced to give up the role of Sidney, due to scheduling conflicts, the producers offered the role to Reese. She passed.

18. Bette Davis as Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind.

Bette Davis

Gone with the Wind producer David O. Selznick wanted Bette for the role, but Warner Bros. (for whom Bette was signed under contract) would not allow her to accept unless Errol Flynn (another Warner actor) was cast as Rhett Butler.

David refused to cast Errol, and Bette was forced to decline. Warner Bros. made the film Jezebel (about a Southern belle) as compensation for her losing the role.

19. Jennifer Connelly as Veronica Sawyer in Heathers.

Jennifer Connelly

The role was written with her in mind, but she turned it down.

It is blasphemy to even think that anyone other than Winona Ryder could have played that role!

20. Shirley Temple as Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz.

Shirley Temple

Shirley was a huge star, and MGM tried to make arrangements to borrow her from 20th Century Fox (the studio that had her under contract), but negotiations fell through, and Judy Garland was cast — who, at the time, was relatively unknown.

Also, it’s best not to think how Shirley’s version of “Over the Rainbow” would have sounded.