10 Actors That Gambled Their Careers By NOT Taking Huge Movie Roles

Before the world was introduced to Leo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet as the ultimate movie star-crossed lovers, there was another couple: Leo and Claire Danes.

The two actors starred together in the hit Romeo and Juliet adaption from 1996 and teens EVERYWHERE were obsessed with the young, beautiful on-screen couple.

So it makes sense then, that when Titanic was casting, the two would be considered again to play the two leads.

While Leo looked at the opportunity as another great way to get his name out there, Danes looked at the project a little bit differently. She recently went on a podcast and told all about her experience with the casting of Titanic. She stated that the project was too similar to Romeo and Juliet, a big epic romance filmed in Mexico City with the same male lead and that she just didn't have it in her to do it again.

Unfortunately for her, Leo had had the right idea. After taking on the project, he hasn't seen a slow day in his career, and is now critically acclaimed, highly sought after and is the man that every young actor dreams of being.

Danes' career seems to pale in comparison but was her choice to not take on Titanic a risk gone wrong? Perhaps not. Yes she's no DiCaprio or Winslet, but her choice to avoid the project by no means destroyed her career. She is, after all, an Emmy award winning actress for her role in the hit drama series Homeland.