​When a film is well cast it is hard to imagine the characters being played by someone other than the actor chosen. However, sometimes these big roles are offered to different actors other than the one ultimately cast to play the part. Whether the role is rejected due to scheduling issues or a lack of interest from actors, it is interesting to explore these reasons to give  a deeper insight into the casting process. So, here is a list of 10 actors which turned down huge roles and why.

Image Courtesy of: AFP/Getty Images

Emma Watson – La La Land Emma Watson was originally the first choice to play lead female Mia Dolan in the Oscar Winning Film.  Scheduling conflicts were the reason she rejected the role since she had committed to filming Disney’s remake of Beauty and the Beast. Despite this, Watson insisted she has no regrets and praised Emma Stone’s portrayal of the character.   Sean Connery – Lord of the Rings The former James Bond actor was offered a huge sum to play Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings trilogy but turned it down due to lack of understanding of the script. This was reportedly the reason he also turned down The Matrix. In the end, the iconic part went to the Gandalf we have come to meme, Ian McKellen.

Leonardo DiCaprio – The Imitation Game In 2011, Warner Bros secured the rights to The Imitation Game after Leonardo expressed interest in the role and the company hoped to secure him for the lead. However after he refused the part, Warner Bros also backed out of the project and Black Bear Pictures committed to financing the film, instead casting Benedict Cumberbatch as lead.   Rosamund Pike – Harry Potter Rosamund Pike, best known for her portrayal of Amy Dunne in Gone Girl was originally in the line up to play journalist Rita Skeeter in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. However, the actress allegedly turned down the role because the role was too small and it was a big commitment. The part instead went to Miranda Richardson.

Image Courtesy of: Getty Images

Image Courtesy of: WireImage

​Emily Blunt –Iron Man 2 Emily Blunt was rumoured to be first choice to play the Black Widow in Iron Man 2. But she backed out of the film due to timing and scheduling differences with her starring in Gulliver’s Travels instead. Nevertheless, she insists that her replacement Scarlett Johannsson was the perfect choice and holds no regrets.     Hugh Jackman – James Bond Before Daniel Craig was cast, Hugh Jackman was in the running to be the next James Bond. Ultimately, Jackman rejected the role due to his worries over portraying two enormous recurring parts given his role as Wolverine in X-Men, stating he wouldn’t have time to work on other projects. Imagine, we may not have gotten 'The Greatest Showman' if he took on a new franchise!

​Will Smith – The Matrix Will Smith was originally urged to play Neo in blockbuster The Matrix. He describes turning down the role due to the way the directors pitched the concept which left him confused and unable to understand their vision. Furthermore, since the directors had only made one low-budget film at that time, he instead opted to star in Wild Wild West which turned out to be a box office disaster.    Matt Damon – Avatar Whilst Matt Damon was still finishing The Bourne Ultimatum he was offered the lead in Avatar, therefore had to decline the project due to scheduling issues. It came on to become the top grossing film of all time and one of Damon’s biggest regrets.

Photo Courtesy of: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

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It is always an incredible feeling to accomplish one of your goals when it comes to your career in Acting!   But what happens after that final showcase and diploma is in hand? The wide-open world outside of University can be a bit intimidating, but IPM Acting Academy has some tips for you graduates looking to start your career in the industry!

Start Making Connections in the Industry

Find an Agent Some actors like to represent themselves, but agents know who is who in the casting world and will be a helping hand in getting your name in front of those people. Always check that the agent you apply to for representation is the right fit for you. If you want to focus on screen acting, don’t go to agents that only focus on theatre production. Research their work and make sure their policies are right for you!

Never Stop Learning! We grow every day, and your training as an actor doesn’t end once you leave university. The film industry is a fast-paced world and it continues to progress in techniques, equipment and its search for talent. Keeping up to-date with the in’s and out’s of film will help your CV grow and your performances will progress in range.  Many professional, A-List actors continue to take classes between their projects to push their skills and expand their techniques for the screen or stage, and so should you if you want to be a professional.

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Stephen Fry President and Ambassador for Mind, Stephen Fry is a supporter and advocate for everyone experiencing mental health problems. His 2006 documentary 'The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive' detailed his own experience of bipolar disorder as well as speaking to many others who shared his diagnosis. https://www.oprahmag.com/entertainment/tv-movies/g26381513/glenn-close-movies-list/ Lady Gaga After being sexually assaulted at a young age and continuing to work through her PTSD, Lady Gaga has supported many mental health campaigns and said it is important to remind those with traumatic experiences they are loved and not alone https://www.bclions.com/2018/12/13/ryan-reynolds-gives-love-bc-lions-fox-nfl-broadcast/ Cara Delevingne  Battling with depression from her teen years, actor and model Cara Delevingne is an advocate for those struggling with mental health. ‘I think I pushed myself so far that I got to the point where I had a mental breakdown… I was completely suicidal. I didn’t want to live any more. I thought that I was completely alone. I also realised how lucky I was, and what a wonderful family and wonderful friends I had, but that didn’t matter.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007x4y3 Glenn Close In 2010 Glenn Close founded Bring Change 2 Mind with her sister, in fighting against the stigma of Mental Health.  Battling depression herself, Glenn wants to world to know that it is okay to speak about mental illness and to seek help. https://mashable.com/article/lady-gaga-pregnancy-rumours-sixth-album/?europe=true Ryan Reynolds Ryan Reynold opened up about the anxiety he experienced whilst filming Deadpool. "I never, ever slept. Or I was sleeping at a perfect right angle – just sitting straight, constantly working at the same time", he explained. "By the time we were in post [production], we’d been to Comic-Con, and people went crazy for it. The expectations were eating me alive." The Deadpool credited his wife, Blake Lively for helping him through it. https://eu.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2017/07/18/cara-delevingne-five-cool-things-happening-valerian-star/485930001/

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ITV is launching it's new apprenticeship scheme on MONDAY 13th MAY, 2019! Many great opportunities for those wishing to grow their skills and connections in the world of Television and Media! This is a great opportunity for graduates and people wanting to follow their dream of working with one of the UK's largest television networks! ​

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What is a headshot ? A headshot is a portrait photograph that focuses on an actors face. A headshot is used to showcase your look but mainly used for casting directors. A headshot is the chance for a Casting Director to see what you look like before they call you in and meet you in person. This is a vital factor and a key reason as to why your headshots need to be of a great standard.  ​ Below you will find some top tips which will help you get the best out of your headshots.

Remember that your headshot is your first opportunity for getting seen by a casting team.  So be one step ahead and put your time into getting a great set of headshots that showcase you.

These headshots are examples of showing variation through expression. No need to add accessories to show a difference in emotion. ​

Did you know that IPM Acting Academy Members get Discounts on Head Shots with our Photography Team? Get your Screen Acting started today!

​The greatest thing about being part of the modern world is that we have knowledge and accessible help at the tips of our fingers! From rehearsing to personal growth and skills, our team looked into some incredible apps that will help you with your audition prep! Here are 5 app suggestions:

1. Rehearsal Pro Rehearsal Pro manages scripts and lines. It can run lines through an automated teleprompter to help actors rehearse with ease. Giving you not only the practice of your lines but reading from a teleprompter is an essential skill in presenting work! ​ Download at: https://rehearsal.pro/ ​

2. Instant Improv Provides a random character, setting and event. Allows actors to come up with spontaneous ideas for improvising. A great skill to keep up-to-date with for commercial and film work! Available on Google Play: Here   Alternatives for other devices: The Amazing Improv Generator Available through Amazon/ CNET/ Other external sites  Sokkyo Available on Play Store & Apple Store

3. Table Read Import any professional script in PDF format and hear it spoken back by a variety of character voices. Allows you to skip scenes and read key points for your character. This will help with all your rehearsals for auditions and filming! Available on Play Store & Apple Store Here

4. Head Space Our team strongly recommends this app for your personal growth! This app helps get into character through meditation techniques. It is very customisable and can be personalised accordingly.  ​ Available on Play Store & Apple Store https://www.headspace.com/register

5. Duolingo We always say accents are an incredible way to expand your CV and diversity. With Duolingo, learn other languages for roles and/or pick up accents and nail pronunciations! ​ Available to use free online at https://www.duolingo.com/

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This industry can be the best of the best and it can give you so many high moments. Like most actors, we do this job because we love it and we are passionate about our craft, but on the other hand taking up a career in acting can have it's challenges, mentally and physically. When you are between jobs and auditions, you can feel like you are at a stand still and you become prone to focusing on the negative. Getting yourself caught up in the lows of the industry is something that the majority of actors experience at least once in our lives. Again, this can lead to you being stuck in your own thoughts and feeling deflated. This is why EXERCISE comes into your life for the better.

Here are a few pointers as to how exercise will benefit you as a performer: 

Exercise releases a hormone called ‘Endorphins’. Endorphins are known as the ‘feel good factor’ hormone. Boosting your mind set in a positive way and making you feel upbeat overall.  You gain back your focus when you exercise and it helps to increase your concentration levels. This can help you as an actor in many ways, whether that is creativity, script memorisation or just in performing every day tasks by being more alert.

Exercise and meditation helps to boost your mental state and switch off from those anxious thoughts that we can allow to bring us down. This is a chance for you to relax and burn off some steam. Everyone needs some ‘me’ time and we shouldn’t let anxieties get on top of us. Exercise comes in a vast variety of categories so you are sure to find something that drives you.

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​Social Media is the largest platform of communication across the globe and it is a chance for you to show the world what you do and how good you are at doing it! Actors are encouraged to use social media to demonstrate their growth, skill and current projects. You never know who might be looking! Here are some tips from the Tutors and Team at IPM Acting Academy on what to do with your Actors Profile on Social media:

Look Professional! We all have those pictures on our Facebook or Instagram that are from our holidays or from that one night out you probably don’t want to remember! Ensuring that your social media profile for your acting career looks professional, it is good to start from scratch and dedicate the page to your acting… and not the karaoke night video of you singing along to Journey.

Know Your Hashtags! Knowing what hashtags to use on your posts will help grow your followers and likes on your posts. There are many sites that help you find which hashtags are trending in the moment. Utilise these tools and you will reach more people with your posts that have the same interests, careers and who are searching for talent in the industry.

Keep Up-to-Date Just like your head shots, your social media should be current. People want to know what you are up to NOW. Whether it's training, being onset or your regimental routine as an actor, keep them engaged with what is current. Let them know when you have some news! New show reel, head shots or accent, they want to see what you are up to in your career.

And Always Remember...

Did you know that we offer One-on-One CV Sessions and other career advice for IPM Acting Academy Members? Learn more on how to expand your acting career by joining IPM today! 

CONFIDENCE Be confident in being you. Know who you are as a person as well as a performer and know what you are capable of.  BE YOURSELF, BRING YOUR INDIVIDUALITY, BRING YOUR PERSONALITY. This makes it more interesting and memorable during the audition process. It will also take the edge off if you stay real to who you are. You never know what a casting director is looking for, whether that is in the present or for future projects. ​They will like you for being you… and therefore they will remember YOU.  Be confident and BE HUMBLE  THE 3 P’s  BE PUNCTUAL… never just ‘on time’.  BE PREPARED - and remain focused on what is happening at that very second. BE PRESENT- It is very easy to tell if your mind isn’t present and this can effect your experience. Blink and the audition is over… so fully commit to each second of the process.  Don’t anticipate what is about to happen in the room. Go with the flow and be prepared for anything!

BE POLITE Manors are free! A ‘thank you’ can go a long way and it shows your gratitude for the opportunity to be in the room. ALWAYS be polite to everyone you meet. You never know who knows who and ‘word of mouth' is a powerful tool in this industry. It is the little things that leave a lasting impression.  PRACTICE  No body is perfect,  but you have POTENTIAL and that is why you are asked to auditions. Always remember ... POTENTIAL COMES FROM THE WORK YOU PUT INTO YOUR DREAMS!   If you put the time in to dig deep and learn your craft you should feel prepared. Being prepared will help you feel less nervous and you’ll be more PRESENT … you see, it all links together.

Learn more key tips on building your confidence in acting with IPM Acting Academy! Click the link below to learn how to start today!