10 Actors Who Rightly Turned Down Iconic Roles
4. Gwyneth Paltrow - Rose (Titanic)
This one is a little bit strange, though given that it’s Gwyneth Paltrow, that shouldn’t come as a surprise. From unique names for her children to her Goop brand and even forgetting she’d been in Spider-Man, Paltrow is a little bit kooky underneath her classic Hollywood glamour.
During an interview with Howard Stern, Paltrow discussed some of the biggest roles of her career, including a couple she missed out on. Paltrow claimed to have been offered the female lead in Boogie Nights, as well as Rose in Titanic. Ironically enough, Titanic star DiCaprio turned down a role in Boogie Nights too, which might have made the cut here were he not already here for Patrick Bateman.
The reason Paltrow turned down the part though remains unclear. When pressed, she simply said her mother (actress Blythe Danner) wouldn’t want her discussing it, as turning down roles is ‘unladylike’. If nothing else, this gives us quite the insight into Paltrow’s upbringing.
Considering the role was Kate Winslet’s big break and how passionately the Brit had campaigned for the part, she definitely seems a better fit for Rose. Besides, it clearly didn’t damage Paltrow’s career, regardless of what her mother might think.