Actors are sharing the big parts they missed out on and it’s a glorious testimony to what might have been
It all started when actor Charlie Condou went on Twitter to share the big role he missed out on which might have changed his career, and asked fellow actors and actresses to do the same.
Actors: what part did you go up for and not get, which would’ve changed your career? I’ll start. Martin Freeman’s part in “The Office”
— Charlie Condou (@Charliecondou) September 28, 2020
And lots of people got in touch to share the stellar parts they too narrowly missed out on, and it’s a sometimes agonising – and occasionally very funny – testimony to what might have been.
1.
Jimmy in Casualty and one of the leads in Our Friends in the North. I got an ep. of Chucklevision instead though.
— Mike Yeaman (@mike_yeaman) September 28, 2020
2.
Neil Buchanan’s replacement on Art Attack. (Accidentally dropped an ‘F bomb’ during a screen test on my third recall.)
— Rich Gittins (@RichGittins) September 28, 2020
3.
I was offered a ch 5 chat host slot but had booked to do Edinburgh fest/ @grahnort did it instead!
— Jenny Eclair (@jennyeclair) September 28, 2020
4.
Sean Astin’s part in ‘The Lord of the Rings’. Had something ridiculous like 7 recalls!! Did an episode of The Bill instead (proper acting work)
— Daniel Fearn (@MrDFearn) September 28, 2020
5.
Hitler in The Crown. Tiny part – just montage or something. I’d played Hitler on a Channel 5 show so they got in touch. But I’d put on a lot of weight since then. Shaved my moustache into the ‘right’ shape in their bathroom. Walked in looking like chubby Chaplin in a beige shirt.
— Danann McAleer (@DanannMcAleer) September 28, 2020
6.
I went up for a part in Poldark in my native Bristol.
It wasn’t a great audition, and I’ll never forget the way the CD said, when I told her I was based locally, “Oh, well at least you haven’t had to come too far”.
— David Cole (@DavidCole86) September 28, 2020
7.
Hermione in Harry Potter… after multiple auditions… only for the first film to be released and spend six months hearing “you look like that girl in Harry Potter” at school for about six months…
— Cassie Compton (@CassiCompton) September 28, 2020
8.
The Milky Bar Kid, but I started crying during the interview.
— Lewis Cuthbert (@derek_mcgurk) September 28, 2020
9.
I had a friend who lost out on the part of Will Scarlett in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves…….. obviously @ChristianSlater got the role, but my friend got a lovey letter from Alan Rickman telling him to keep on studying and apply to RADA…….
— 275 (@RapidReformed) September 28, 2020
10.
My acting career began and ended with an audition to play child William Wallace in Braveheart. I couldn’t go to the last callback because I had diarrhoea, which is my life story. School drama teacher never forgave me (called me “a great wee actor, but a fucking little bastard”).
— Martin Indoors (@terminalboy) September 28, 2020