10 Auditions That Were Too Bold But Got Stars to Fulfil Their Dream

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In the Hollywood scene, auditions are key if one wants to stand out, especially among all the high competition. They can make or break the start of one’s Hollywood dream. While some auditions can get crazy, they are exactly what some stars need to break into the big leagues. From fast improvisation to bending around the rules, these bold actors’ moves opened doors for them. 

When chasing that dream, playing it by the book is not usually the answer, and it sure was not in the case of these stars who gambled it all and won. 

Margot Robbie’s ballsy move when she slapped Leonardo DiCaprio

When Margot Robbie

took to audition for The Wolf of Wall Street

, she had reached one of the defining scenes in the script. At that moment, when she had to kiss Leonardo DiCaprio, she did the unthinkable- she slapped him right across the face.

This brought the room to a standstill, shocked by what had just happened. But things turned around for Robbie soon enough when DiCaprio and director Martin Scorsese burst into laughter. The scene’s bold improvisation earned Robbie appreciation, and she was also cast as Naomi Lapaglia, launching her into Hollywood stardom. 

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Sigourney Weaver’s audition for the Ghostbusters

Sigourney Weaver did something so wild, and unimaginable in the Ghostbusters

audition that could have easily gone anyway, but her daring moment not only landed her a role but also gave the script a creative rewrite to include parts. Weaver, believing that her character Dana Barett should have the experience of possession, dropped to all fours during the audition, howling like a dog and gnawing on cushions. 

You can imagine the surprise on the faces, as this happened! But, here is the kicker: after the surprise of all the howling in the audition died down, director Ivan Reitman saw the creative potential in her vision and even called for a script rewrite to include a possession scene. This audition came as a big win for Sigourney Weaver.

Jason Momoa’s did the Haka dance for the Khal Drogo role

When Jason Momoa auditioned for Khal Drogo in Game of Thrones

, he was faced with the question of how to represent the fiery presence of the character, Khal Drogo, who had very few words. But, Momoa was quick at his feet and did the Maori Haka war dance in his audition.

This move came as a good surprise to the casting team and gave him the role that was his big breakthrough. 

When Tom Holland improvised in his Spider-Man role

Tom Holland’s audition for Spider-Man

came with great pressure to fill the fan-favorite iconic role, and his advisors told him to stick strictly to the script for this audition. But Holland’s mind changed when he began his screen test with Robert Downey Jr.

, as they both went onto a banter to and fro away from the scripted scene. Their chemistry became clear, as Holland built on what Downey said and vice versa. This move landed Tom Holland the role, but it also marked the start of the dynamic screen duo that fans have come to love now. 

Jada Pinkett Smith’s audition for Gotham was one for the books

Jada Pinkett Smith

, while auditioning for the role of Fish Mooney in Gotham

, wasted no time in becoming the character. She chose to show her character using methods, rather than just talking about the character. She arrived in a long gown, with a short black wig a shirtless man on a leash, who had LIAR written across his forehead with lipstick. You can imagine the shock of this scene. But this dramatic display, which could have easily taken a turn for the worse, played off very well for Pinkett Smith, giving her the role she envisioned. So much so that even her husband Will Smith loved the portrayal.

Tom Hardy’s midnight audition for The Warrior

Tom Hardy had set his mind on getting the role of Tommy Conlon in The Warrior

, and he did something off the books to secure his spot. When he arrived in Los Angeles, he took his car and drove to director Gavin O’Connor’s house at midnight to audition. He explained his nervous energy around having a formal audition setting directly, without any hesitation, which impressed O’Connor, who invited him to stay and work together. 

Dustin Hoffman’s take on the audition for Midnight Cowboy

Dustin Hoffman was determined to take on the part of Ratso Rizzo, the gritty street hustler in Midnight Cowboy

. He made his point by showing up on a Manhattan street corner dressed like Ratso Rizzo. From the torn clothes and messy air to him even limping about, he got completely invested in the character.

This amount of dedication did not go unseen. He got the role, yes, but it also left a lasting high impression on Schlesinger’s mind about Hoffman. 

Chloë Grace Moretz’s in her audition for Hugo

Back in 2011, Chloe Grace Moretz, determined to work with director Martin Scorsese, went in to audition for the role of Isabelle in Hugo

. Here comes the catch- Hugo

required a British accent, and Moretz convincingly spoke in a fabricated British accent so well and even claimed to be from Cambridgeshire. Moretz’s performance so impressed Scorsese that he gave her the role, and did not realize her true background until halfway through shooting. 

Megan Fox’s audition for Transformers

To audition for Mikaela Banes in Transformers

, Megan Fox was told to wash director Michael Bay’s Ferrari to demonstrate her character’s sultry appeal. This did not sway her. She took it up as a challenge and did great, creating chemistry between her character and the car even, landing her the part in the film that marked an important stepping stone in her Hollywood career.

Geena Davis’s relentlessly pursued Thelma in Thelma & Louise

The whole journey of Geena Davis to Thelma in Thelma and Louise

was filled with her constantly checking up and asking her agent to call Ridley Scott weekly to keep expressing her interest. All these calls paid off in the end, when Ridley Scott took over the direction of being a producer to a director. Scott agreed to meet with Davis, and this meeting ended on a big happy note for Davis, who had finally secured her much-wanted role of Thelma. 

These auditions show how sometimes taking big risks can bring you big rewards if you tackle them properly. These stars unlocked their dreams by taking that bold step, proving that sometimes all it takes is to step outside that bubble of one’s comfort zone and give it a shot, and who knows maybe one can hit the jackpot!

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Which of these auditions took you aback? Let us know in the comments!

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