Hollywood has its fair share of "what-if" casting tales, from Will Smith turning down the role of Neo in The Matrix to Gwyneth Paltrow almost strapping on Rollergirl’s skates in Boogie Nights. There is no shortage of iconic roles that almost went to other actors. Casting decisions can make or break a movie; sometimes, what initially appears to be a missed opportunity can often transform into a stroke of serendipitous luck. Recently, Julia Roberts proved this as she shared insights into the roles she passed on and those she fortuitously stumbled into, including her iconic portrayal as Shelby in Steel Magnolias. Adding more intrigue to this story though is the fact that the role was initially on the radar of another '80s icon, Meg Ryan.
In an interview on Watch What Happens Live! With Andy Cohen, the August: Osage County performer reflected on turning down iconic parts in movies like the Meg Ryan-led You’ve Got Mail and The Last of the Mohicans, only to realize later that perhaps they wouldn’t have been as strong with her. As she tells it:
