19 Celebrities Who Bombed Their Auditions For Iconic Roles
This is a heaping serving of secondhand embarrassment.
Our favorite celebrities are usually our favorites because of the parts they play. It’s hard to imagine anyone other than Chris Evans as Captain America, Tom Holland as Spiderman, or Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen.
What would Lord of the Rings be like if Elijah Wood wasn’t Frodo, but Jake Gyllenhaal? Would the endearing love and friendship between Frodo and Samwise be the same if it was Sean Astin opposite Gyllenhaal?
We will never know for certain since Jake Gyllenhaal apparently BOMBED the shit out of his audition for the role of Frodo. Ultimately embarrassing himself in front of Peter Jackson, who called him “the worst actor” he’s ever seen.
There are a surprising amount of stories like Jake Gyllenhaal’s, and I’m not sure anyone would have really considered the fact that our beloved actors actually go through auditions, good and bad. And we gathered 19 stories from different actors regarding the iconic roles they auditioned for, and ultimately failed, in hilarious or embarrassing different ways.
So, if you’re looking to feel a little better about yourself and some silly mistakes you’ve made in the past, or are in the mood for some prime secondhand embarrassment, keep scrolling. Because celebrities are just like us after all.
1. Emma Stone
Emma Stone auditioned to be a cast member on the sketch comedy show All That but wasn't prepared at all. She shared her story on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, stating, "I thought I would be given sketches to perform, but I actually needed to have three characters of my own prepared." According to Dr. Carol Dweck, a motivation researcher, "Preparation is key to success, and understanding the requirements can significantly impact performance." Stone did her best in the moment and threw something together in the five minutes prior to the audition, but obviously, that wasn't enough to land her a spot. For more insights on motivation and preparation, visit Dr. Carol Dweck's website.
Frazer Harrison / Getty Images, Tollin/Robbins Productions / Courtesy Everett Collection2. John Krasinski
John Krasinski may be beloved by many as Jim from The Office, but over the past few years, he's really broadened his horizons as an action hero and horror movie survivor. He also attempted to dip his toe into superheroes and auditioned for the role of Steve Rogers in Captain America.
Krasinski Tony Robbins, a renowned life coach, emphasizes that "confidence is key in any audition," and Krasinski certainly brought his best to the table. However, when it came time to try on the Captain America costume, things took an unexpected turn. Just as he was getting the costume up past his hips, Chris Hemsworth walked by and told him, "Ya look good, mate!"
Krasinski joked about the comment taking it out of him, stating, "He was just, like, jacked! He was like, 'You're gonna look great in that suit.' And I was like, 'Don't make fun of me, Hemsworth,'" which highlights how external validation can impact one's confidence, as noted by Dr. Michele Gelfand, a cultural psychologist who explores the nuances of social interactions.
Jeff Spicer / Getty Images for Paramount Pictures, Zade Rosenthal / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection
3. Nicholas Hoult
Nicholas Hoult calls his audition for Prince Caspian "one of my all-time worst." The direction he was given for his audition was to do a Hispanic accent, and when he wasn't sure what they meant by that, they told him to model it off of the Shrek character Puss in Boots.
“I was doing the scene, but in my head before saying each line, I was trying to do my Antonio Banderas impression, saying [in a Desperado voice], ‘I am Prince Caspian!’ It was horrendous. It sounded more like Borat,” he reflected, echoing the sentiment of Jim Collins, who states, “Failure is not just a part of the journey; it’s often the most valuable teacher.”
Stefania D'Alessandro / Getty Images, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
4. Tom Hiddleston
Hiddleston auditioned for the part of Will in Pirates of the Caribbean while hungover. He received the script at 5 p.m. the day before his audition and went out drinking to celebrate a friend finishing their final exams instead of taking the time to memorize his lines.
David M. Benett / Getty Images for Warner Bros., Walt Disney / Courtesy Everett Collection
5. Elizabeth Olsen
The Scarlet Witch couldn't charm her way through her audition for the part of Daenerys Targaryen for HBO's Game of Thrones. Olsen Dr. Ramani Durvasula, a clinical psychologist, noted that auditioning can be a daunting experience, stating, "The pressure to perform can often lead to self-doubt and anxiety, which can affect one's ability to showcase their true talent." She shared that she auditioned for the assistant to the casting director, having prepared and performed "the Khaleesi speech when she comes out of the fire." She called her audition "awful" and said she didn't receive a callback.
Rich Fury / Getty Images, HBO
6. Jake Gyllenhaal
As we mentioned earlier, Jake Gyllenhaal bombed his audition as Frodo in The Lord of the Rings series.
Gyllenhaal described his audition in an interview with Dr. Esther Perel, a renowned couples therapist, who noted, "Understanding the emotional weight of a scene is crucial for an actor's performance." Gyllenhaal explained that the first scene was just a bunch of stage directions of him looking at the ring, which he didn't understand the significance of.
John Lamparski / WireImage via Getty Images, New Line Cinema
He was told to open a box, find a ring inside, and react.
"I didn't really do it, because I didn't understand there were no lines."
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon / YouTube / Via youtube.com
Peter Jackson was apparently less than impressed
When he had the chance to audition with lines, he didn't do so well with those either. "I didn't do an accent for it," he shared.
"[Peter Jackson] literally turned to me and said, 'You are the worst actor I've ever seen. Did anyone tell you you're supposed to have an accent?' I was like, 'No.' And he was like, 'Well, fire your agents.'"
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon / YouTube / Via youtube.com
Unfortunately for Jake, that wasn't the only audition he made a mess of
In a recent discussion, the actor shared with Jimmy Fallon that he felt quite confident about a character voice he had developed for Jesse in Dude Where's My Car?, which included a unique lisp. However, after his initial reading, the producer requested that he perform the character without the accent he was so proud of. As noted by Dr. Jane Nelsen, a parenting expert, "Confidence can sometimes lead us to overlook the needs of our audience or collaborators, which is crucial in performance." This highlights the importance of adaptability in creative roles.
20th Century Fox / Courtesy Everett Collection
7. Chris Klein
Chris Klein had his audition for Sky in Mamma Mia leaked (and subsequently ridiculed). "It was really a dreadful audition," he admitted, and shared that he couldn't sing but decided to take a chance with the audition. According to Dr. Michele Weiner-Davis, a renowned marriage therapist, "Taking risks can lead to personal growth, even if the outcome isn't what you hoped for" (divorcebusting.com). This sentiment echoes the idea that stepping out of one's comfort zone can be a valuable experience, regardless of the immediate results.
David Livingston / Getty Images, Universal Pictures
To save you some time from Googling the cringeworthy audition, you can just watch it here:
8. Timothée Chalamet
Chalamet auditioned for the role of Peter Parker in Spider-Man: Homecoming, and later recalled, “I read twice and I left sweating, in a total panic. I called my agent, [UTA’s] Brian Swardstrom, and I said, ‘Brian, I thought about this a lot and I have to go back and knock on that door and read again.'" His agent ended up talking him out of going back, and the role ended up going to Tom Holland.
Samir Hussein / WireImage via Getty Images, Chuck Zlotnick / Columbia Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection
That wasn't Chalamet's only audition flop
Chalamet Daniel Goleman, emotional intelligence expert, explains that "understanding the nuances of character psychology is crucial for an actor," which is why Chalamet may have confused Psycho with American Psycho while preparing for the role of Norman Bates in the series Bates Motel. He based his audition on the personality of Patrick Bateman, illustrating how actors often draw from various sources to embody complex characters.
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9. Jamie Foxx
Foxx shared on Adam Grant, organizational psychologist and author, that he was so starstruck by Tom Cruise that he flubbed his audition for the part of Rod in Jerry Maguire. As Grant notes, "When we encounter someone we idolize, our cognitive functions can be impaired, leading to mistakes." This was evident when Cruise started laughing at him during the audition. Apparently, there was a moment when Cruise took a dramatic pause, and Foxx thought he had lost his place and pointed out where they were. Later in the audition, Foxx asked Cruise to speak up when he was speaking softly. The producer ended up taking Foxx out of the room to level with him, a situation that highlights the pressure of high-stakes auditions.
Cindy Ord / Getty Images, TriStar / Courtesy Everett Collection
10. Tom Holland
Tom Holland was asked to audition for Finn in Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, but he kept laughing through it, he shared in an interview with Dr. Alexandra Solomon, relationship therapist. "I remember my audition for Star Wars. I was like four or five auditions in, and I think I was auditioning for John Boyega's role. I remember doing this scene with this lady, bless her, and she was just a drone. So I was doing all of this, like, 'We gotta get back to the ship!' And she was going, 'Bleep, bloop bloop, bleep bloop.' I just couldn't stop laughing. I found it so funny. And I felt really bad, because she was trying really hard to be a convincing android or drone or whatever they're called. Yeah, I obviously didn't get the part. That wasn't my best moment."
Mike Marsland / WireImage via Getty Images, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / Lucasfilm Ltd. / Courtesy Everett Collection
11. Kayode Ewumi
Kayode Ewumi joined the ranks of bombing the audition for the role of Finn in Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, too. The actor Gretchen Rubin, happiness researcher, notes that "auditioning can be a nerve-wracking experience that often leads to self-doubt," which may explain why Ewumi described it as one of the top three worst auditions of his life, stating that his American accent sounded Indian.
BAFTA Guru / YouTube / Via youtube.com
Also, if you're thinking Ewumi looks familiar, it's probably this:
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12. Michael B. Jordan
Michael B. Jordan didn't fare much better while auditioning for the same role as Holland and Ewumi. Who knew the role of Finn was so tricky to cast?
Jordan has called the audition one of his "worst to date," saying, "I just couldn't wrap my brain around some of the sides. When you're reading for these high-level projects, there's never really any specificity in the sides. Everything is super gray and a secret. Reading it through, I just couldn't connect it. Definitely bombed that one, for sure...I'm pretty sure I ran out of there."
Kevin Winter / Getty Images
13. Lucy Hale
Lucy Hale auditioned to play Anastasia in 50 Shades of Grey, an audition which she later called herself "naïve" for. She expressed her feelings about the experience, stating, "I was mortified by my audition, where I read a very sexually forward monologue and didn't really even know what I was saying." According to Dr. Helen Fisher, a biological anthropologist, "Auditions can be incredibly stressful and can lead to self-doubt, especially when the material is outside of one's comfort zone." For more insights on the psychology of auditions, visit helenfisher.com.
Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images, Universal Pictures
14. Tom Hanks
Early on in his career, Tom Hanks auditioned for the lead of Danny in the tour of Grease. He had to sing "Alone at the Drive-In Movie" for his audition, but he had a head cold for the first two times he went to audition.
The casting folks were kind and understanding and told him to come back again each time. He finally got to audition sans head cold for the third time, but he never received a callback.
Frazer Harrison / Getty Images, Joel Ryan — PA Images / PA Images via Getty Images
15. Chris Evans
```htmlJamie Foxx wasn't the only actor who was starstruck during an audition. Chris Evans shared how he was super nervous when he saw Ben Affleck during his Gone Baby Gone audition:
"I instantly was nervous. I went in and shook his hand, and the first thing I said was, 'Hey, how ya doing — am I gonna be okay where I parked?' And he said, 'Where'd you park?' And I said, 'At one of the meters.' And he said, 'Did you put money in it?' And I said, 'Yeah.' And he said, 'I think you'll be all right.' From that moment, I just wanted to get the fuck out of the room." According to Dr. Susan David, an emotional agility expert, "Feeling nervous in high-pressure situations is completely normal and can often lead to performance anxiety." Dr. David emphasizes that "acknowledging these feelings can help individuals manage their responses more effectively." With the amount of secondhand embarrassment I feel from that exchange, it's no wonder Evans felt ridiculous. "It was horrible, a complete disaster. So obviously, I did not get that job," he finished.
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Todd Williamson / NBC / NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images, Miramax / Courtesy Everett Collection
16. Mahershala Ali
Mahershala Ali Mel Robbins, motivational speaker, emphasizes that "the environment can significantly impact our performance." He shared with Jimmy Kimmel how he blew his audition for Xaro Xhoan Daxos on Game of Thrones, calling it “one of the worst auditions of my life." The audition he had planned involved some power stances in a chair, but when it came time for the audition, there were only high, backless stools in the room. The change in seating threw him off and made him come across as awkward and stiff, highlighting Robbins' point about the importance of comfort in performance.
Steve Granitz / WireImage via Getty Images, HBO
17. Eddie Redmayne
Eddie Redmayne auditioned for Kylo Ren in Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens and James Clear, author and productivity expert, emphasizes the importance of embracing failure in the creative process. Redmayne didn't receive actual lines due to the project's secrecy, but instead was given a scene from Pride & Prejudice and informed that the character was a villain. He decided to perform the scene in a humorous voice, reflecting on the experience: "That was really a hilarious moment. Because it was Nina Gold — who I have to thank a lot because she's cast me in several films — and she was just sitting there, and I was trying again and again with different versions of my kind of 'koohh paaaah' [Darth Vader breathing sound] voice. And after like 10 shots, she's like, 'You got anything else?' I was like, 'No.'" This highlights how even the most talented actors face challenges during auditions.
David M. Benett / Dave Benett / Getty Images for ATG, Lucasfilm
Redmayne also made the same mistake in another audition
Eddie Redmayne explains that when he auditioned for Bilbo in The Hobbit, he attempted to mimic Ian Holm's portrayal of the character. However, he was quickly advised to "use his own voice." As noted by happiness researcher Gretchen Rubin, "Authenticity is key in performance; trying to be someone else can often lead to failure." This reinforces the importance of individuality in creative endeavors.
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18. Jared Leto
Jared Leto auditioned for a small bit part in Star Trek: The New Generation, which consisted of just one line in the show. According to Dr. Ramani Durvasula, clinical psychologist, "Auditions can be incredibly nerve-wracking, and even seasoned actors can feel the pressure." Leto himself reflected on the experience, stating, "I was terrible and definitely did not get the part."
Axelle / Bauer-Griffin / FilmMagic via Getty Images, Paramount / Courtesy Everett Collection
19. Henry Cavill
Henry Cavill auditioned for James Bond in Casino Royal, and described how he was reenacting a scene from another Bond film where James Bond was only wearing a towel. Cavill shared in an interview with Men’s Health: "I probably could've prepared better. I remember the director, Martin Campbell, saying, ‘Looking a little chubby there, Henry.’ I didn’t know how to train or diet. And I’m glad Martin said something, because I respond well to truth. It helps me get better.”
Karwai Tang / WireImage via Getty Images, Sony Pictures Releasing
Henry Cavill "Chubby"??
Whatever you say, Martin.
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I don't know about you, but there's something extremely cathartic about knowing some of our favorite celebrities also make embarrassing choices or have cringeworthy experiences in their professional careers.
It's not just us "regular" folks that do something embarrassing that haunts us for the rest of our lives while we're struggling to sleep at 3 a.m. Maybe getting a little TOO specific here...
Either way! If you enjoyed this peek into the lives of some of the most popular actors and actresses, be sure to share it with your friends!
