The 2006 romantic comedy The Holiday has claimed the top spot for Best Christmas Movie, captivating audiences with its star-studded cast including Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, and Jack Black. Over the years, this film has become a beloved classic, but did you know that other unexpected celebrities were in the running for these iconic roles?
In a recent interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Winslet revealed that both Fallon and Oscar nominee Robert Downey Jr. had auditioned for Law and Black’s roles, respectively. Winslet recalled, “We were sort of told that you were coming in to do… well, I thought it was a reading. We were going to have a fun reading of the script, I didn’t realize you were auditioning for the part, I’m so sorry you didn’t get it.”
Downey Jr’s audition took an unfortunate turn as he attempted an English accent, which Winslet mistook for an Australian accent. She candidly shared, “That’s bad. That’s not going to work and who’s going to tell him that sounds dreadful. It wasn’t actually that great.” It seems this may be the first time Downey Jr. hears about this!
Despite these unsuccessful auditions, the final casting choices proved to be perfect. Winslet even revealed that fans recognize her more for The Holiday than for her iconic role in Titanic. She admitted, “People come up to me in the streets more about The Holiday and the episode of Extras that I did than Titanic, I promise you. Especially at Christmas.”
What truly warms Winslet’s heart is the special connection the film has created among families worldwide. She shared, “Mothers and daughters come up to me in the grocery store and they say, ‘OK, we just love The Holiday. It’s our little ritual at Christmas.’ They sit down, it’s a tradition, and I just love that.” This unexpected mother-daughter bond formed around the film has been a delightful surprise for Winslet.
As the holiday season approaches, we can’t help but anticipate revisiting this heartwarming film once again. The Holiday has undoubtedly secured its place as a cherished Christmas tradition for countless families.
