In the realm of cinema lore, there exists a small indie film that not many people have heard about called The Notebook. Now, the previous statement would have been true if Ryan Gosling did not grace the screen with his presence in this film. The star’s magnetic charm and his vibrant chemistry with Rachel McAdams are what made the film one of the greatest love stories of all time. Not only did the film win a gazillion awards, but it also launched its two lead actors into unfathomable heights of fame.
But as it turns out the heart and soul of the movie Rachel McAdams wasn’t the first choice. Before McAdams was locked in for the role the superstar Jessica Simpson was being considered. It was solely for the steamy intimate scenes that she rejected to work on the project alongside the dreamy Gosling as it went against her Christian beliefs.
Why Jessica Simpson Rejected The Notebook?
In a candid radio interview with Andy Cohen, while promoting her memoir Open Book, Jessica Simpson revealed why she turned down the opportunity to star in The Notebook. Given that the actress and Ryan Gosling have a shared history, having known each other since their auditions for The Mickey Mouse Club back in the 1990s.
She revealed it was because of the explicit s-x scenes that made her change her mind. She said,
“At the time I was a virgin and I wouldn’t do the s-x scene,”
Simpson’s efforts to persuade the studio to remove the scene also led her nowhere, as they remained steadfast and refused to make any changes.
Despite her status as a pop icon and being a s-x symbol in the early 2000s, the actress placed great importance on her religious convictions. Her commitment to remain chaste until marriage presented a conflict with certain scenes in the movie, as they did not align with her deeply held personal beliefs. And so, despite the connection she had with Gosling, she chose to stay true to her instincts and took a different path, allowing Rachel McAdams to grace the screen as Allie Hamilton in the evergreen romance.
Jessica Simpson Was in Love With Ryan Gosling
In a nostalgic revelation, Simpson also confessed that Ryan Gosling had been her childhood crush, ever since both actors had auditioned together for The Mickey Mouse Club at the age of 12. Reflecting on those days, she fondly recalls,
“I was in love, before anybody knew how hot Ryan Gosling was going to become, I had a vision.”
Though the actress never had the chance to convey her true feelings to the Hollywood star, she later learned in a curious twist of fate, that Ryan Gosling and Justin Timberlake had actually made a bet on who would be the first to kiss her since they were 12 years of age.
During her appearance on Jimmy Kimmel’s show, the singer and actress recounted an incident when she and Justin Timberlake shared a kiss. It happened at a time when they both were adults and single. However, the events that followed were rather interesting, she revealed,
“Apparently, he and Ryan Gosling had a bet on who would kiss me first when they were 12-years-old,–And so, he text Ryan that he had won the bet. I was like, ‘Oh? Ok. Umn, so we don’t kiss again?’ That’s done.’”
Interestingly enough, Timberlake was texting her childhood crush about the victory just after smooching Simpson. Despite the lighthearted bet, the three of them have managed to maintain a strong friendship over the years.
Source: Sirius XM
