Not saying Britney Spears should’ve been cast as Allie over Rachel McAdams in The Notebook, but you’re lying if you aren’t blown away after watching her emotional audition tape.
Thanks to the Daily Mail, we get to see Britney’s full chemistry read with Ryan Gosling from all the way back in 2002. Warner Bros. already yanked it off YouTube on copyright grounds, so the X post below will have to do.
The Notebook wound up releasing across the U.S. in June 2004 and became an instant, all-time classic romantic movie. According to the report, Britney beat out several notable actors to be a finalist for the role such as Amy Adams, Kate Bosworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jessica Biel and Claire Danes. Not to mention another pop star-turned-thespian in Mandy Moore.
Nowadays Britney is making waves with excerpts from her upcoming autobiography, The Woman In Me. And while some of the salacious and gossipy details from said memoir will be the subject of many think pieces across the Internet, I’m here to focus on this bit little corner of Hollywood history, about which Britney says the following:
“‘The Notebook’ casting came down to me and Rachel McAdams, and even though it would have been fun to reconnect with Ryan Gosling after our time on The Mickey Mouse Club, I’m glad I didn’t do it.”
Just check out all the praise from casting director Matthew Barry, who was there for Spears’ incredible audition, per the Daily Mail:
“Britney wasn’t just good – she was phenomenal… it was a tough decision. Britney blew us all away. Our jaws were on the floor. I was blown away. Absolutely blown away. She brought her A-game that day.”
It’s wild to think that someone who’s achieved so much musically like Britney could be this good at acting, too. Had she gone down this path instead, you can’t help but think she’d have been very successful.
Interestingly, Barry stated that he wants Britney to make a comeback to the silver screen:
“I hope she goes and gets back to it. She has the talent to do this. Come back to us. You are an was an inspiration to so many young women. Britney, come work with me again.
I will whip you into shape in a month and I would absolutely cast you in my next movie. Talent like yours does not go away.”
I’m inclined to agree with what Barry is saying about Britney on every point here. The only film I ever remember from Britney Spears was that road trip type deal titled Crossroads. Never saw it. Got terrible reviews. Now I’m starting to wonder if I missed something and whether or not critics were predisposed to hate it because Britney was starring in it!
Like… did Britney do that well in Crossroads? I would’ve doubted her before that Notebook audition but now I’m at least vaguely curious to find out.
I can’t believe I’m typing these sentences. As a graduate/recipient of a Master of Fine Arts degree in acting, regarding my overall assessment of Britney’s performance, I have no notes.
In case ye be interested, here’s Rachel McAdams’ audition for The Notebook. Pretty phenomenal in her own right.
