Featured Image Credit: Kevin.Mazur / Contributor/Barry King / Contributor
Natalie Portman was fired from starring opposite Leonardo DiCaprio because ‘it wasn’t appropriate’
The actor didn’t work with Leonardo DiCaprio on the film for a very good reasonThe modern imagining of Romeo and Juliet has been done many a time, but for some the 1996 flick reins supreme.
Leonardo DiCaprio, who was 21, starred alongside Claire Danes, aged 17 at the time, in the Baz Luhrmann directed Romeo+ Juliet in a film that was met with much praise from fans and critics.
But many people don’t know that Natalie Portman was actually removed from the film… and for a very good reason.
Knowing what a powerhouse Portman is considered now, it is admittedly hard to imagine her getting replaced in an acting role.
However back then, Portman had not long started her acting career and had quickly begun landing roles, establishing a good reputation among those in the industry.
Born in 1981, Portman was only a teenager – 13, in fact – when Romeo + Juliet began production. Juliet in the original tale is supposed to be 13 years old, so the director was staying true to the story’s roots by casting an actor of the same age.
20th Century Fox
However, it’s also worth acknowledging that at the same time, DiCaprio was 21 years old. A great age for portraying a dramatic romance between star-crossed lovers, but only when the other person involved is of an appropriate age.
Given the hefty age difference, not to mention the fact that one of the stars was an adult while the other was still very much a child, the casting choices caused a lot of controversy.
Portman has previously touched on this when discussing her short involvement with the film, saying: “It was a complicated situation and […] at the time I was 13 and Leonardo was 21.”
The actor went on to say it ‘wasn’t appropriate in the eyes of the film company or the director, Baz’.
20th Century Fox
As a result, Portman ended up leaving the role behind, saying: “It was kind of a mutual decision too that it just wasn’t going to be right at the time.”
With the role of Juliet then up for grabs, Luhrmann settled on Danes, who was starring in a series called My So-Called Life at the time.
Danes was 17 years old, but while there was still an age difference between herself and DiCaprio, it evidently wasn’t one big enough to cause an issue for the filmmakers.
News
Maggie Smith’s Hilarious Jab At Judi Dench Is Going Viral As Fans Mourn Her Death
Maggie Smith died on Friday at the age of 89. David M. Benett/Dave Benett / Getty Images The famed British actor had a long and storied career. She initially found success as a theater actor before winning two Academy Awards in the…
The Real Story Behind the ‘Lee’ Movie and Lee Miller, the Legendary Surrealist Photographer and World War II Journalist Who Inspired It
In a new biopic starring Kate Winslet, Miller’s many lives—as an artist, model, muse, cook and war correspondent—need little embellishment Kate Winslet as Lee Miller in Lee, a new film directed by Ellen Kuras Courtesy of Roadside Attractions When Antony Penrose was a young…
Justin Bieber Has Been Trying to Tell His Story Even Before the Alleged Diddy Scandal Was Exposed
Justin Bieber has been in the industry ever since he was a kid which means that he grew up witnessing both the good and bad of Hollywood. In his teenage days, he seemed to be on good terms with Sean…
Spot the difference: The times Meghan Markle has echoed Princess Diana in her fashion choices
Meghan Markle often pays tribute to Princess Diana through her fashion choices. She recently wore an entire outfit that seemed to come straight from her late mother-in-law’s wardrobe. Dining at an upscale Italian restaurant in Santa Barbara, Meghan wore a white shirt by…
Prince William Officially Welcomes Prince Harry Back to the UK After “Dream” of Princess Diana: “My Mother Spoke to Me in a Dream…”
In a surprising turn of events, Prince William has officially invited his brother, Prince Harry, to return to the UK, citing an emotional dream about their late mother, Princess Diana. The announcement, which has captured the attention of the media…
Mother Diana “Appears in Dreams” Helping Harry Discover His Biological Son—Prince Archie Is Truly…
In a remarkable and emotional revelation, Prince Harry has shared that he believes his late mother, Princess Diana, has been communicating with him through dreams, guiding him toward a profound discovery about his son, Archie. This revelation comes at a…
End of content
No more pages to load