11 Famous movie characters that were almost played by other actresses

11 Famous movie characters that were almost played by other actresses

Would Titanic really be the same without Kate Winslet? Would anyone be able to portray Bella Swan's brooding nature as well as Kristen Stewart? And would the Bend and Snap be as good if it was done by someone other than Reese Witherspoon? I'm going to say a hard no, because these films would be completely different had a different actress played the part.

But it turns out that many of the most iconic movie roles were close to being played by someone else. Many of them are impossible to imagine at first, but if you really think about you, you can see that it might just work. Here are 11 of the wildest mix-ups.

1. Emilia Clarke – Anastasia Steele in Fifty Shades of Grey

Due to the fact that she's done quite a few nude scenes in Game of Thrones, the actress declined the part so she wouldn't get typecast as someone that's always playing raunchy characters.

Fifty Shades Dakota Johnson

2. Emma Watson – Cinderella in Cinderella

She turned down the role and later on went to play Belle in Beauty and the Beast instead, saying that this Disney princess resonated more with her.

cinderella emma watson iconic famous movie roles characters almost played by different actors

3. Jennifer Lawrence – Bella Swan in Twilight

The star who broke into Hollywood with The Hunger Games auditioned for the part at age 17, and has since admitted she's glad she didn't get the role.

bella swan twilight iconic famous movie roles characters almost played by different actors

4. Emma Watson – Mia in La La Land

The actress was offered the part but turned it down to play in the Beauty and the Beast musical instead.

lala land emma stone ryan gosling emma watson iconic famous movie roles characters almost played by different actors

5. Lindsay Lohan – Regina George in Mean Girls

After people fell in love with the actress in Freaky Friday, producers decided she should play the lead rather than the villain.

mean girls regina george still haunts rachel mcadams

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

She was offered the role in a point in her career where she wanted to do fewer mainstream blockbuster movies, so turned it down several times.

anne hathaway the devil wears prada iconic famous movie roles characters almost played by different actors

7. Christina Applegate – Elle Woods in Legally Blonde

"I got scared of kind of repeating myself," the actress said of why she turned down the role, suggesting Elle's character would be too similar to the one she played on Married... with Children.

legally blonde iconic famous movie roles characters almost played by different actors reese witherspoon

8. Renée Zellweger – Jenna Rink in 13 Going on 30

The Bridget Jones actress was up for the part until there was a directorial change.

13 going on 30 jennifer garnder iconic famous movie roles characters almost played by different actors

9. Billie Lourd – Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Carrie Fisher's daughter was up to play the part while they were struggling to find an actress to fill the role, but she went on to star as Lieutenant Connix instead.

rey star wars iconic famous movie roles characters almost played by different actors billie lourd

10. Gwyneth Paltrow – Rose in Titanic

The iconic role was offered to Gwyneth, but she turned it down – a decision that still makes her feel just a little regretful.

rose titanic kate winslet iconic famous movie roles characters almost played by different actors

11. Uma Thurman – Eowyn in Lord of the Rings

"I do consider it one of the worst decisions ever made," the Kill Bill actress said of turning down the role in the trilogy.

eowyn lord of the rings uma thurman iconic famous movie roles characters almost played by different actors

Well, do you think any of those films should've been recast?