The story of Romeo and Juliet has been captivating audiences for more than 400 years. William Shakespeare’s iconic tragedy has been retold countless times, one of the most famous being in Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 film, which premiered four centuries after the debut of the play itself.

Cast as the titular leads were Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes, an on-screen couple that fans fell in love with (even though the two actors were rumored to have had a complicated relationship behind the scenes).

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The chemistry between DiCaprio and Danes was undeniable, and even more than 20 years after the film’s release, people are still talking about it.

So it’s hard to believe that anyone else could have ever played either of the main roles. But there was another actress lined up to play Juliet before the casting director even considered Claire Danes!

Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Romeo + Juliet’

Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet was one of the most popular romance films of the ‘90s. The retelling of Shakespeare’s most famous tragic plays placed the traditional characters in a modern setting, resulting in yet another generation of viewers falling in love with the iconic love story.

This retelling featured some of the most sought-after actors of the time, as well as those who were just finding their big break. Along with Claire Danes as Juliet, the film also starred Leonardo DiCaprio, who was then yet to star in 1997’s Titanic and become a household name, as Romeo.

Natalie Portman Was Nearly Cast Instead Of Claire Danes

The filmmakers searched for months to find the perfect actress to play Juliet and saw hundreds of hopefuls in that time. At the time that Claire Danes was cast as Juliet, she had already starred in the successful TV show My So-Called Life.

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Most fans of the film will agree that Claire Danes made the perfect Juliet. But there were also other famous contenders for the role.

According to Hello Giggles, one of the other stars who could have played Juliet was Natalie Portman, who was 13 years old at the time. The filmmakers actually had Portman in mind before they thought of Danes.

Why The Filmmakers Went With Claire Danes Over Natalie Portman

So why did they end up going with Claire Danes over Natalie Portman? Well, at 13 years old, Portman just seemed a little bit too young to be the leading lady in a romance story. Fox Studios felt that, starring opposite the 21-year-old Leonardo DiCaprio, it would’ve been inappropriate for Portman at such a young age.

"It was a complicated situation and [...] at the time I was 13 and Leonardo was 21 and it wasn't appropriate in the eyes of the film company or the director, Baz,” Portman explained (via Hello Giggles).

“It was kind of a mutual decision too that it just wasn't going to be right at the time." At the time she was cast as Juliet, Danes was 17—much closer in age to her co-star.

How Does Natalie Portman Feel About Missing Out On The Role

As Romeo + Juliet ended up being so successful, fans often wonder whether Natalie Portman regrets not having played Juliet. But if her comments are anything to go by, it seems that the actress couldn’t be happier for Danes.

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"I think the film came out really, really beautifully and Claire Danes did a really, really wonderful job,” Portman revealed (via Hello Giggles). No hard feelings here!

Shakespeare’s Juliet Actually Was 13, Though

It’s easy to understand why the studio felt that Portman was too young for the role of Juliet at 13. For a modern audience, a 13-year-old is still a kid; not the leading lady in a romance flick.

But interestingly enough, casting Portman may have rendered the film more accurate to the source material, since the character of Juliet really was 13 in the original Shakespeare play.

While audiences in Shakespeare’s time may have resonated with a 13-year-old girl falling in love, the casting probably wouldn’t have sat well with the 1996 audience.

Natalie Portman’s Film Career Since ‘Romeo + Juliet’

In any case, Natalie Portman’s career certainly didn’t suffer just because she missed out on the role of Juliet. The actress has starred in several major films since then and has often graced the A-list.

Among the most famous roles in her career so far include Jackie Kennedy in 2016’s Jackie, Jane Foster in Thor (2011), and Nina Sayers in Black Swan, which was released in 2010. Portman also starred as Padmé in the Star Wars films from 1999 to 2005.

While she didn’t star in Romeo + Juliet, Portman did appear in three other films that year: Beautiful Girls, Everyone Says I Love You, and Mars Attacks!

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