1. – Diane Lane, The Outsiders, 1983. Sheridan auditioned but Francis Coppola took the fast Lane.
2. – Courteney Cox, Friends, TV, 1994-2004. As if anyone else could have been Monica… Yet Shertidan was on the March 7, 1994 reading list for what the creators pitched as “searching for love and commitment and security… and a fear of love and commitment and security.” The UK-born Sheridan went on to be Paige Matheson for 181 episodes of Knots Landing, 1986-1993, and 112 hours of Edie Britt, amoing those Desperate Housewives, 2004-2009.
3. – Kate Winslet, Titanic, 1997. James Cameron toyed with the idea of Nicolette as Rose DeWitt Bukater.
4. – Minnie Driver, Good Will Hunting, 1997. When the writer-stars Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, Oscars in hand, thanked Minnie Driver, the simultaneous translation on French TV said they thanked… beaucoup de chauffeurs!
5. – Debra Messing, Will & Grace, TV, 1998-2006. Nicole auditioned for Grace. “Any notes?” she asked. And director Jimmy Burrows told her: “Wear tighter pants.” Oh well, never mind, Wisteria Lane was just around the corner…
6. – Renée Zellweger, Bridget Jones’s Diary, 2000. A wild card. Far too sexy – and American – for a plump 30-something London office worker. Even if she dared to put on 20 pounds like Zellweger.
7. – Marcia Cross, Desperate Housewives, TV, 2004-08. Auditioned for the part of Bree Van De (very) Kamp, based on show creator Marc Cherry’s own mother. However, Cherry awarded her the role of Edie Britt.
Birth year: Death year: Other name: Casting Calls: 7