Actors Who Almost Got the Part

Denzel Washington

By JACKIE WILLIS

What if Rachel McAdams turned down her part in The Notebook? What if Melissa McCarthy passed on Bridesmaids? These famous roles could have been played by other familiar faces, but would the films been totally different? From Jessica Biel to Denzel Washington, see who passed on or was passed over for some of the most memorable on-screen roles.

Most recently, Denzel Washington revealed to GQ magazine that he passed on two major film parts. "Seven and Michael Clayton," Washington confessed. "With Clayton, it was the best material I had read in a long time, but I was nervous about a first-time director, and I was wrong. It happens."