The Pop Superstar Who Almost Played Rachel McAdams’ Character In The Notebook

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It’s been reported that there were tensions among the cast during the filming of “The Notebook,” but it seems that Ryan Gosling, the actor from the movie, had disagreements solely with Rachel McAdams, his co-star. As seasoned professionals often do, they addressed their differences and eventually things smoothed over, leading to a brief romantic relationship between them. The undeniable success of “The Not notebook” as a timeless romance film is proof of the chemistry between these two stars on screen. It’s intriguing to speculate whether Gosling might have fared differently with the other actress who was also in the running for the role of Allie and almost got chosen instead.

It was none other than pop icon Britney Spears, then primarily recognized for her music but also venturing into acting, who was present. Interestingly, Spears and Gosling shared a past – they were both members of “The All-New Mickey Mouse Club” alongside Christina Aguilera, Keri Russell, and several other future celebrities. Remarkably, the casting director of “The Notebook” claimed that McAdams barely edged out Spears for the role.

The casting director said Britney’s audition for The Notebook was amazing

One intriguing tidbit about the casting of “The Notebook” is that Britney Spears almost stole the role of Allie from Rachel McAdams. Many other prominent actors were initially vying for the part, but when Britney auditioned, she left them all in her wake. Matthew Barry, the casting director for “The Notebook,” praised her performance to the Daily Mail in 2023, saying, “Britney wasn’t just good – she was extraordinary.” Impressed by her reading with Gosling, both Barry and the producers decided to overlook Scarlett Johansson, Claire Danes, and Jessica Biel, ultimately choosing Spears for the role.

In my perspective as an ardent admirer, it was unfortunate that Britney Spears didn’t get the role right away. The casting team kept testing potential candidates. However, when Rachel McAdams walked in for her audition, she truly impressed everyone. As Barry put it, “It was a challenging choice. Britney left us all spellbound. Our jaws dropped to the floor. I was astonished, utterly astonished. She gave her best that day.” Yet, they eventually opted for the relatively unknown McAdams, and the back-to-back success of “The Notebook” and “Mean Girls” in 2004 catapulted her to stardom. These two films are still considered among Rachel McAdams’ finest performances to this day.

Spears didn’t like how acting affected her

It’s possible that not getting the part in “The Notebook” was a setback for Britney Spears, but according to her own words, it turned out to be beneficial in the end. Two years prior to “The Notebook” hitting cinemas, Spears starred in the road trip movie “Crossroads,” alongside Taryn Manning and Zoë Saldana, who was also on the rise at that time. The film received criticism from critics, but it did well financially and has since gained a cult following. Interestingly, Spears later admitted that she didn’t particularly enjoy the acting experience.

In her autobiography, titled “The Woman in Me”, Britney Spears revealed that while working on the movie “Crossroads”, she slipped into method acting and had immense trouble escaping this state, which took a toll on her mental wellbeing. She expressed gratitude for not getting the part in “The Notebook”, as it would have meant repeating the same challenging experience. Over time, she occasionally accepted minor acting roles, such as the one in “How I Met Your Mother” that people often forget about Spears. However, “Crossroads” remains her most significant role in a film or television production to date.

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2025-07-20 17:30