It’s hard to imagine the coveted role of Rose in Titanic brought to life by any other actress than Kate Winslet. This captivating query arises following Claire Danes’ revelation that she came tantalizingly close to reuniting with her Romeo + Juliet co-star, Leonardo DiCaprio, to embody the iconic character of Rose in James Cameron’s monumental romantic masterpiece of 1997.
The film became a turning point in Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet’s careers. The film went on to win 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. The on-screen chemistry between the lead characters captivated fans globally and forged a great friendship between the two actors.
Was Kate Winslet Not The First Choice For The Role
During an episode of Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast, Danes was asked about being offered the opposite role of Leonardo DiCaprio in Titanic. The actress asserted that she wasn’t aware of the specifics; however, the makers showed “strong interest” in her taking up the highly sought-after role.
“But honestly, I’d just made this romantic epic with Leo in Mexico City [Romeo + Juliet], which is where they were going to shoot Titanic, and I just didn’t have it in me,” Danes said.
Danes also revealed that her work was also managed by the same manager as Leonardo DiCaprio at the time and that both weren’t sure about taking what seemed like career-defining roles.
“And I could see he wasn’t sure, but he was like, ‘F*ck it, I gotta do this thing.'” Danes recalled. “And I looked down on him, going, I totally understand why you are doing it. And I’m not ready for that. And I think I really wasn’t ready for it.”
Many Actresses Were In The Running To Play Rose
Danes was among the many actresses that were considered for the highly sought-after role. The list even included names like Gwyneth Paltrow and Gabrielle Anwar. However, James Cameron’s casting director, the late Mali Finn, had someone else in mind – Kate Winslet.
Winslet was desperate to work alongside Leonard DiCaprio; she rang the director after her audition to ask whether he had someone else in mind for the part. “I am Rose! I don’t know why you’re even seeing anyone else!” read a quote in a 1997 Entertainment Weekly story.
In the pursuit of finding the perfect fit for Jack, Cameron considered the talents of both Chris O’Donnell and Matthew McConaughey, with the latter even auditioning alongside Winslet. However, after much contemplation, Cameron ultimately set his sights on Leonardo DiCaprio, though it was far from a straightforward decision due to the exceptional potential he displayed.
“He read it once, then started goofing around, and I could never get him to focus on it again,” Cameron said at the time. “But for one split second, a shaft of light came down from the heavens and lit up the forest.”
Titanic is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Source: Vanity Fair
