Why Jessica Simpson Didn’t Want To Star In ‘The Notebook’

In the 2000s, Jessica Simpson was enjoying a decent career as both a singer and an actress. She was one of the most famous celebrities around, which means that she was offered some very exciting movie roles.

In her new memoir, Open Book, Simpson shared that one particular film she was given a chance to star in was The Notebook. The movie is now recognized by many fans as a romance classic, but Simpson actually declined to star in it. Read on below to find out why Simpson turned down this huge movie role.

Jessica Simpson revealed why she turned down ‘The Notebook’

In an interview to promote Open Book, Simpson talked a bit about the offer she got to star in The Notebook.

Simpson shared that she knew Ryan Gosling, who was chosen as the leading male actor, very well since both of them auditioned for The Mickey Mouse Club back in the 1990s. As such, Simpson was stoked about starring in a film with him.

However, she had to turn down The Notebook because of her religious beliefs. Simpson was a devout Christian who remained chaste until her first marriage, so the movie’s sex scene did not sit well with her.

“At the time I was a virgin and I wouldn’t do the sex scene,” Simpson said in an interview with Andy Cohen.

Nevertheless, Simpson does not regret the decision to remain true to her religious beliefs.

Rachel McAdams was eventually cast in ‘The Notebook’

As many fans are aware, the leading female role for The Notebook eventually went to actress Rachel McAdams.

Even though other stars were considered for the role, director Nick Cassavetes knew early on that McAdams was right for the part early on. He said: “We went around with a video camera, and we just looked up people that were working and interrupted them from their movies. And some of them were really, really, really great, but when Ms. McAdams came in and read, it was apparent that she was the one.”

Even Simpson agreed that McAdams did a great job with the film. Simpson called her “an amazing actress” and acknowledged that it was a great career move on McAdams’ part.

‘The Notebook’ went on to become a huge hit

The Notebook went on to become one of the most famous romance movies of all time. It grossed over $13 million in its first weekend at the box office earning over $100 million in total worldwide.

It also became the 15th highest-grossing romance films of all time. The Notebook ended up winning every Teen Choice Award that it was nominated for. It also won a Golden Satellite Award and an MTV Movie Award.

Additionally, there have been talks in recent years about adapting the movie into a TV series and a Broadway show.

Jessica Simpson talked about an unfortunate incident concerning ‘The Notebook’

Although Simpson did not have regrets about her decision to turn down The Notebook, she did have to watch the movie at an unfortunate time in her life.

In her memoir, Simpson shared that, after deciding to break up with her then-husband, Nick Lachey, she boarded a flight that screened The Notebook for the whole cabin.

“The statement [about the breakup] went out while I was in the air, but nobody on the plane knew a thing, except that Jessica Simpson was sobbing in first class,” Simpson wrote. “Then they announced that the movie we all had to watch was The Notebook. Oh God, I thought. The most romantic movie in the world, and I was leaving Nick.”