Some of our very own who said no to some key roles.
It’s Oscars week and the Irish are well represented in various categories at this year’s Academy Awards.
Two of our lead nominees at this Sunday’s ceremony, Michael Fassbender and Saoirse Ronan, have been known to turn down and miss out on a role or two in their time.
So, to get in the mood ahead the big night, we’re looking at the prime gigs that some of our other major talent rejected.
We’ve done this before with some of the most iconic actors in history, so let’s looks at five legendary Irish examples now.
Daniel Day-Lewis
Yes, we know that he was born and raised in the England, but the three-time Best Actor winner has held Irish citizenship for some time and he lives in Wicklow, so he’s very much one of our own.
Day-Lewis is one of the most selective actors in motion picture history, having only appeared in five movies in the 21st century.
He’s turned down a host of big character and flicks, like; Aragorn in Lord of the Rings, The Bard in Shakespeare in Love, Count Laszlo de Almásy in The English Patient and Lestat in Interview with the Vampire.
Clip via YouTube/BramblesBest
The celebrated thespian hasn’t always had it his own way though, having reportedly missed out on playing Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction and Andrew Beckett in Philadelphia.
Colin Farrell
We’re sure you’ve seen the trailers for the new Batman v Superman movie by now. But, can you imagine Colin Farrell’s face there instead of Ben Affleck?
Well, you may not have had to imagine, because the Dubliner allegedly said ‘nah’ to the offer over a decade ago when the film was merely a concept.
Farrell also reportedly declined the offer to star in Collateral, with Tom Cruise taking over, and decided against accepting a role in What Love Is, making way for Cuba Gooding Jr.
Incidentally, the In Bruges lead was seriously considered to play one of the iconic movie characters, James Bond, with the prestigious position eventually going to Daniel Craig.
Brendan Gleeson
Farrell’s In Bruges partner-in-crime, Brendan Gleeson, was the first choice to play the main antagonist in Alpha Papa; the film adaptation of Alan Partridge.
The role of course was played by fellow Irish acting legend, Colm Meaney, but that was only after Gleeson, who was originally attached, pulled out.
Steve Coogan himself explained the role reversal, with The General star dropping out of the production due to broken promises about the script.
Clip via YouTube/Elliot Lee
Just in case you think Gleeson sounds like a prima donna there, Coogan himself fully justified Gleeson’s decision in his aurobiography, Easily Distracted.
Cillian Murphy
The Corkman is most comfortable and adept in independent movies, and it’s believed that he has turned down a host of bigger roles, while maintaining typically respect silence in the process.
Fans are used to seeing Murphy in cult hits, like; Disco Pigs, Breakfast on Pluto and, to a certain extent, Perrier’s Bounty.
However, we could have been seeing him appear as The Caped Crusader himself, after the Intermission star auditioned for the lead role in Batman Begins.
Look, here’s the proof.
Clip via YouTube/Alejandro Dieguez
Reportedly, he came very close to securing the role, until director Christopher Nolan went with Christian Bale and instead consoled Murphy by offering him the supporting character of Scarecrow.
In fairness, it didn’t exactly hurt his career too badly.
Liam Neeson
The star of Taken and Michael Collins has regularly been in demand since his breakthrough in Schindler’s List all those years ago.
The Ballymena man was originally preferred to portray James Bond over fellow Irishman Pierce Brosnan in GoldenEye, while also turning down Christopher Walken’s brief but excellent cameo in True Romance.
Neeson even committed as far as being cast in Dead Poets Society. That was when Jeff Kanew was scheduled to direct.
Instead, Peter Weir took the reigns on helming duties, while Robin Williams stepped in to portray the lead character.
We’re just glad that the modern-day action star accepted this unforgettable cameo in Ricky Gervais’ Life’s Too Short.
Clip via YouTube/jbrearey97
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