Before being the unforgettable Jack and Rose of Titanic, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet almost had the role stolen by two other actors.
“Jack, I’m flying!” This replica has made millions of moviegoers dream around the world. Twenty-five years after its release, Titanic continues to be a cult film for generations of viewers. This is thanks to the tragic true story of the shipwreck, but also to the impossible love story of its heroes, to the direction of James Cameron, or to the memorable acting of Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.
It’s hard today to imagine other actors to play Jack and Rose in this tragedy-stricken romance. However, the iconic interpreters of Jack and Rose could never have replied. Indeed, other actors were considered by the production to embody the two cursed lovers of the Titanic.
The studios preferred Matthew McConaughey, actor of romantic comedies and known today for his role in Interstellar, to take on the role of Jack. However, James Cameron refused and absolutely wanted Leonardo DiCaprio to inherit the role. The actor will also be difficult to convince himself according to the legend, since he was then looking for more conflicting roles than that of Jack!
Conversely, Kate Winslet was far from the director’s first choice. Before her, the names of Gwyneth Paltrow, Nicole Kidman, Claire Dane, Jodie Foster or even Cameron Diaz and Sharon Stone were mentioned by the production. James Cameron was unconvinced when presented with the name Kate Winslet, as she had acted in many costume (and corset) dramas prior to Titanic. But her audition would have been enough to convince him that she was “spectacular” for the role. The rest is history.