In the early 2000s, there was a bit of a buzz around the upcoming film adaptation of Helen Fielding’s hit novel, Bridget Jones’s Diary. The role of the titular character, a British singleton in her thirties who chronicles her love life with wit and humor, was highly sought after by many actresses. In the end, it went to Renee Zellweger.
But Zellweger wasn’t the first choice for the role. That honor goes to someone else: Rachel Weisz.
Weisz was fresh off her Oscar win for The Constant Gardener at the time and was being courted for all sorts of big roles. But she turned down Bridget Jones, citing creative differences with director Sharon Maguire. So the role went to Zellweger instead, and the rest is history.