15 Actresses Who Almost Played Iconic Movie and TV Roles

Hollywood is rife with “what could have been” stories. So many iconic roles that we think of with a certain actress were actually almost played by others, and the reason these casting changes occurred can be really interesting.

Everything from scheduling conflicts to creative differences, the road to the big screen is rarely easy. Here are 15 actresses who came tantalizingly close to landing legendary roles–changing the course of entertainment history in the process.

1. Britney Spears – Allie Hamilton in The Notebook

Pop megastar Britney Spears auditioned for the role of Allie Hamilton in The Notebook and reportedly left the casting directors speechless. Though her audition impressed, the role went to Rachel McAdams after all, whose portrayal of Allie was unmistakable. If Britney had gotten the part, The Notebook could have become a very different staple in pop culture.

2. Emma Roberts – Cotty in Spring Breakers

At one point, Emma Roberts was attached to play Cotty in the neon-soaked drama Spring Breakers, but she ultimately dropped out of the film due to “creative differences.” It’s a role that calls for a radical departure from the kinds of teen characters usually written, and though Roberts was an early pick for the part, it was Benson who ended up bringing her signature to the cult classic.

3. Blake Lively – Jennifer Check in Jennifer’s Body

Blake Lively was actually the first choice to play Jennifer Check in the horror-comedy Jennifer’s Body. Her role in Gossip Girl conflicted with shooting, however. Eventually, Megan Fox took the role and did it so well, it would become iconic in its own right. It’s interesting to think how different Lively’s take on the character might have been.

4. Lindsay Lohan – Blair Waldorf in a Gossip Girl Movie

Before Gossip Girl was the popular TV show we all are so obsessed with, it was supposed to be a movie. Lindsay Lohan had been the favorite to play Blair Waldorf. But when the movie did not materialize and the story eventually came onto the small screen, the character went to Leighton Meester, with her razor-sharp wit and tip-top fashion sense.

5. Michelle Trachtenberg – Bella Swan in Twilight

Michelle Trachtenberg said in an interview that she was offered the role of Bella Swan in the Twilight saga but opted out because, as she put it, she had “already done the vampire thing” (a nod to her time on Buffy the Vampire Slayer). Kristen Stewart eventually landed the role, and the rest is box office history.

6. Sarah Michelle Gellar – Cher Horowitz in Clueless

Before Alicia Silverstone could don the fabulous and charismatic Cher Horowitz in Clueless, the role was first offered to Sarah Michelle Gellar. Due to the conflict with her soap opera, All My Children, Gellar had to turn it down. Silverstone’s performance went iconic, but it is interesting to imagine Gellar’s version of the heroine from the Valley.

7. Rachel McAdams – Andy Sachs in The Devil Wears Prada

Though Rachel McAdams had already proved her talent in films such as Mean Girls and The Notebook, she was the first choice for the role of Andy Sachs in The Devil Wears Prada. McAdams refused the role three times, leaving room for Anne Hathaway to step in. Curiously enough, Hathaway was the ninth choice, but her interpretation solidified her position as one of Hollywood’s stars.

8. Selena Gomez – Mitchie Torres in Camp Rock

Disney reportedly offered the lead role in Camp Rock to Selena Gomez first, but she passed, feeling that her close friend Demi Lovato was more fit for the part. Lovato did indeed excel as Mitchie Torres, while Gomez did great for herself with shows like Wizards of Waverly Place.

9. Taylor Swift – Sorority Girl in Scream Queens

Pop starlet Taylor Swift was slated to make a guest star appearance as a sorority girl in Scream Queens. Unfortunately, her packed tour schedule conflicted with filming, and she had to decline. While her cameo would undoubtedly have been a highlight, the series went on to deliver plenty of campy thrills sans Swift.

10. Ashley Tisdale – One of the Liars in Pretty Little Liars

Ashley Tisdale had first been tapped to star in Pretty Little Liars. She opted instead for Hellcats, a short-lived series about competitive cheerleading. Though Tisdale brought her usual charm to Hellcats, the massive success of Pretty Little Liars certainly made it obvious she passed on a cultural phenomenon.

11. JoJo – Hannah Montana in Hannah Montana

Before Miley Cyrus was synonymous with Hannah Montana, the lead role in the series was first offered to singer JoJo. She said she couldn’t see herself committing to the character and turned the part down. Cyrus’s portrayal went on to define a generation, but JoJo’s vocal talents may have brought a different kind of energy to the Disney Channel classic.

12. Ashley Olsen – Serena Van Der Woodsen in Gossip Girl

At least when a TV version of Gossip Girl was first shopped around, the producers had Ashley Olsen playing Serena Van Der Woodsen and Rumer Willis playing Blair Waldrof. Eventually, though, showrunners went with Blake Lively and Leighton Meester in the roles, an on-screen chemistry that made the show a defining teen drama.

13. Gwen Stefani – Jane Smith in Mr. & Mrs. Smith

Pop singer Gwen Stefani auditioned for the role of Jane Smith in the actiony romance Mr. & Mrs. Smith. But Angelina Jolie landed the part and gave such an iconic performance that it single-handedly created her famous on-screen—and off-screen—chemistry with Brad Pitt.

14. Shakira – Elena de la Vega in The Mask of Zorro

The role of Elena de la Vega in The Mask of Zorro had been discussed with Shakira, but she turned the offer down due to a lack of confidence in her English at that period. The part eventually went to Catherine Zeta-Jones, whose performance earned widespread acclaim and cemented her as a leading lady in Hollywood.

15. Blake Lively – Marissa Cooper in The O.C.

Not as well-remembered, perhaps, is the fact that Blake Lively was also in the running to play the part of Marissa Cooper on The O.C. before it was given to Mischa Barton. Instead, Lively landed the breakout role on Gossip Girl, proving sometimes the right part at the right time is just what is needed.

These stories remind us how much casting choices shape the characters and the cultural moments we treasure. Whether near-misses or deliberate decisions, the path to stardom for these actresses often hinged on the opportunities they took-or didn’t take. Whether they passed on the roles or were passed over, their careers flourished in unexpected ways, proving there’s no single route to Hollywood success.