Claire Danes has revealed why she turned down the lead role as Rose in Titanic opposite Leonardo DiCaprio.
Following the phenomenal success that resulted from casting Danes and DiCaprio in Romeo + Juliet in 1996, studio executives were naturally keen for the two to star in a romantic film together again.
However, Danes reveals she was concerned about the level of fame that would follow and whether she was ready for that attention as a young actor.
Speaking on Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast, she explained her reservations over being considered for the role. “Honestly, I’d just made this romantic epic with Leo in Mexico City, which is where they were going to shoot Titanic, and I just didn’t have it I me,” she said.
“And I remember, Leo and I shared a manager at the time, and we were there at the office. And I was on a balcony, which is funny… and Leo had this rental red convertible… and he was kinda going in circles in the parking lot.”
"And I knew he was wrestling with the decision to do that movie or not and he just looked up at me, and he said, 'I’m doing it. I’m doing it'."
"I could see he wasn't sure, but he was like, 'Fuck it, I gotta do this thing'." Danes said, per Stylist. "And I looked down on him going, I totally understand why you are doing it. And I'm not ready for that. And I think I really wasn't ready for it."
Despite DiCaprio deciding to go for the lead role of Jack - and the phenomenal success of the film - Danes has "zero regrets" over turning down the role, which of course ended up going to Kate Winslet and winning her the 1998 Best Actress Oscar.
"I was just really clear about it," Danes recalls. "I wasn’t conflicted. I wasn’t."
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