Jessica Biel Auditioned for ‘The Notebook’ While Covered in Blood
Before casting Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams in The Notebook, several other well-known celebrities were heavily considered for the movie. One of those actors was Jessica Biel. But the most shocking part about her experience is that she auditioned for the role while covered in blood!
Keep reading to find out why.
Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams had the best chemistry out of all the actors that auditioned for ‘The Notebook’
According to the producer of the film, Mark Johnson, it didn’t matter how good the actors were individually. What mattered the most was the chemistry between the two stars who would play Allie and Noah. If the producers couldn’t find two actors with sizzling chemistry, the movie wouldn’t get made.
“You may have two great actors, the best actors for the parts individually,” said Johnson in a behind-the-scenes video. “But if the chemistry isn’t there between the two of them, then that movie’s doomed.”
Although Biel and several other A-list celebrities auditioned, the roles ultimately went to Gosling and McAdams. They had the best on-screen chemistry out of any other actors.
“We tested 10 actresses with Ryan,” said Johnson. “Nine of them were very well known. We went around with a video camera and looked for people that were working and interrupted them from their movies, and some of them were really, really great. But when Ms. McAdams came in and read, it was apparent that she was the one.”
Jessica Biel auditioned for ‘The Notebook’ while covered in blood
According to Biel, starring in The Notebook would have been a dream come true. It was a role she longed to play, yet when she didn’t get it, she called it “the one that got away.”
“That’s one that I wanted so badly,” she revealed, according to Huffington Post. “I was in the middle of shooting Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and I auditioned with Ryan Gosling in my trailer—covered in blood. [Director] Nick Cassavetes put me through the wringer in an interesting, excitingly creative way. But there’s a million that get away. We’re gluttons for punishment. It’s just rejection.”
Britney Spears, Reese Witherspoon, and Jessica Simpson also auditioned for ‘The Notebook’
Several other well-known celebrities auditioned for the Nicholas Sparks movie adaptation of The Notebook. Some of the beloved stars who tried out for the role of Allie include Britney Spears, Reese Witherspoon, and Jessica Simpson.
And while it is said that their auditions went exceptionally well, they simply didn’t have the fiery chemistry with Gosling that McAdams shared with him.
Interestingly enough, out of all the people that auditioned for the role, McAdams was the only unknown actor out of the bunch. But her status as an “unknown” did nothing to prevent the heat she had with Gosling in that audition room.
“The chemistry with Rachel was immediate,” Gosling said in an interview with Access. “She was the last one to read, and she was certainly the girl for the job. And we thought, OK, we’re making the film.”
