Scarlett Johansson admits she auditioned for Anne Hathaway’s role in ‘Les Mis’

It’s been so long and this attribution might be convoluted or downright false, but I believe it was Gwyneth Paltrow (??) who once gave this piece of advice (and I’m paraphrasing): “Never tell who you slept with or what films you passed on.” You know I’m paraphrasing because Goopy would never end a sentence with a preposition. But the advice is solid, I think – don’t kiss & tell and don’t discuss which films you didn’t want to do. But is it okay for an actress to discuss what films she auditioned for but didn’t get? Hmm… What Would Goop Do? (WWGD?)

That’s the situation right now with Scarlett Johansson. ScarJo is on Broadway (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof revival) and she’s doing some interviews to get people interested. So she told a little story about how she auditioned for Les Miserables…. The Fantine role.

She dreamed a dream, but it never came true. Scarlett Johansson’s wish of starring in Les Miserables was killed when she became sick with laryngitis. In a interview with Broadway.com, the 28-year-old actress reveals she auditioned for the role of Fantine in the Oscar-nominated film, but lost to Anne Hathaway.

“I sang my little heart out,” the 28-year-old Avengers star said of her audition, but unfortunately she wasn’t at her best.

“I auditioned with laryngitis,” she explained. “I did everything I could to, like, not have laryngitis.”

But looking back at it, Johansson says the right woman won the part.

“I think, looking at the film now, there’s no possible way I ever could have topped that performance,” she admitted. (Jessica Biel, Amy Adams, Marion Cotillard, Kate Winslet and Rebecca Hall were also considered for the role.) “It was perfect and I think fateful and meant to be.”

And despite not getting the job, Johansson said her audition “brought back so many memories” from trying out for the part of young Cosette when she was a child. “It was fun for me to revisit that,” Johansson explained.

Hathaway, 30, has been nominated for a 2013 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for the role, and has already won a Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild and BAFTA Award.

[From Us Weekly]

Hahahhahahahaha Jessica Biel auditioned. Haha. Yes, we live in a world where Jessica Biel thought she could totally do Fantine in Les Miserables. We live in a world where Jessica Biel thinks she’s in the same league as Hathaway, Winslet, Adams and even ScarJo. Out of that group, I think Amy Adams would have done a hell of a job, and Amy has a lovely singing voice too. But I’m glad Annie got the part, because she’s brought me such joy this awards season. Seriously. Now, was it rude for Scarlett to basically say “I auditioned and I didn’t get the part because I had laryngitis, but if I had been healthy I totally would have gotten it”? Well, I doubt Annie will send roses to the theater, you know? And just think… we could be rolling our eyes through ScarJo’s Oscar campaign right now. Hahaha. Or Jessica Biel’s!!!!

Photos courtesy of WENN.

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55 Responses to “Scarlett Johansson admits she auditioned for Anne Hathaway’s role in ‘Les Mis’”

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  1. Evelyn says:

    Well if she had gotten the part, at least there’s very little speaking in the movie! I just can’t stand her speaking voice

  2. Ms Kay says:

    To be honest, I believe anyone could have played Fantine, even Katie Holmes, even Jessica Biel, it wouldn’t have been a shocker, not because she is a good actress but well she just gets those roles next to A list actors so…

    And had from ScarJo or Biel been nominated, it would been just as insufferable if not way worse.

  3. allons-y alonso says:

    “And just think… we could be rolling our eyes through ScarJo’s Oscar campaign right now.”

    No, I always roll my eyes at ScarJo, period.

    • T.Fanty says:

      ^ this.
      I get that she wants to be taken seriously and I respect that. She just isn’t very good or smart, bless her.

      • allons-y alonso says:

        I just can’t with her on film. Very wooden and she mumbles. I hate mumblers. She only kind of pulled it off in the Avengers because Joss Whedon knows how to write women.

      • T.Fanty says:

        A friend just saw Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and said she was appalling in that, too.

        I didn’t get her in Avengers. I know it’s probably more of a Marvel thing, but she seemed kind of pointless. And I didn’t get what her special “thing” was supposed to be. She was particularly bad when she was faking the crying. I judge Loki for not seeing through that terrible performance.

    • Miss Kiki says:

      The first thing I do when i wake up is roll my eyes at ScarJo.

      On a side note who is still letting Biel and her bangs audition for anything?

    • j.eyre says:

      This is a sore point with me: the day tried for for the role, I had come down with Fabulous and it hurt my audition. The people in the room stood in thunderous applause, wiping away the torrent of tears I brought about with my emotional portrayal. They said my hair was too luminous and could not see cutting it for ANY role. They also added that were I to ever become a prostitute, my obvious gifts would have me rolling in enough cash that me nor Cosette would ever want again. It’s hard to watch AnnE relish in what would have been mine.

      And Miss Kiki – step back, sister… we all know which Avenger your thinking about first thing in the morning.

      • Miss Kiki says:

        First thing in the morning, last thing at night. I’m so predictable.

        I can barely stomach AnnE atm but I think it would have been 100x worse had if I’d had to deal with ScarJo. You know how she grates on me. Saying that though do we think ScarJo would have got the best supporting actress nomination?

      • j.eyre says:

        “Saying that though do we think ScarJo would have got the best supporting actress nomination?” – No, I don’t. I actually like ScarJo – or rather, I don’t mind her. I think it’s physical, I must be attracted to her because I don’t find her particularly interesting in interviews, I can’t brook her saying “like” and “ya’ know” interspersed with intellectual musings (which sometimes seemed half-formed) and I just don’t think she is a good actress. When cast properly she fills her spot nicely but I find her average overall. I initially thought she had done a decent job in the Avengers but I just re-watched it and no longer think so; she forced so many lines.

        AnnE – gosh, I don’t know. I do think she is a good actress and I think she did a good job as Fantine and probably deserves all the recognition. I loved her, then found her insufferable and now that everyone hates her, I am back to “aw, she’s harmless.” As T. Fanty described herself, so do I – I am lazy and fickle.

        Now, get your tuchus over to the links post and click on the A Socialite Life link for CHemboy – oh.my.gawd does he look HAWT.

  4. marie says:

    I’m sorry but I don’t think Scarlett can sing and the fact that she puts out cds or whatever annoys the hell outta me, pretentious prat.

    • Amanda says:

      Seems like I’ve never read any reviews of her albums that weren’t terrible lol

    • Chicagogurl17 says:

      She sings through her nose and it comes out muddled and flat. There is absolutely nothing broadway about her voice. She sounds like Harvey Fierstein in heat.

    • Rhiley says:

      Oh yeah, I forgot I downloaded an album by her a few years ago because I love Pete Yorn, though I haven’t listened to him since that mess.

  5. Ranunculus says:

    Both of them are mediocre actresses and both have extremely annoying personalities. So I guess the producers were not looking for an interesting actress anyway.

    God forbid if we have ever to suffer through a ScarJo Oscar campaign. Judging by the stupid decisions of the academy in the last years anything can happen though.

    • Dutch says:

      I can’t imagine Scarlett going through all the weight loss for the role and risk losing her two greatest assets.

  6. Annie says:

    How does Biel even land those auditions? Her agent needs to stop embarrassing herself and have talk with her. Why is she so deluded? What part of her non impressive resume makes her think she’s in the same league as these girls who have been nominated or won Oscars? Kate, one Oscar and how many nominations? Anne, 2 nominations. Amy Adams, 3. Girl that is major entitlement. You have not proven yourself and have impressed no one. Ever. You can’t possibly think you’re at that level.

    Scarlett is not at that level either. She was very overhyped at one point, but she’s not a great actress so the fuss is over. I would never say “I auditioned for [insert manor character of the year]”. What is the point?

    • stellalovejoydiver says:

      Isn’t it her agent who gets her these auditions? They are prob both deluded, or her agent thinks that even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while.
      Can you imagine being Biel’s agent? Ugh. Maybe she should also change her professional name to “the jackpot of names” Timberlake, at least her douchehusband got great roles considering his range.

    • Gene Parmesan says:

      About Jessica Bile i have never seen more truth spoken lol! I mean all she will be known for is being JT’s wife which IMO isn’t much of a compliment but hey it keeps her in the news somewhat.

  7. Lolly says:

    Scarlett you know your lying. You didn’t have laryngitis, your basic singing just wasn’t good enough. Jeez this woman comes up with all manners of excuses for why she doesn’t get jobs. First she’s too sexy now this. Pretentious twit

  8. Aud says:

    Laryngitis my butt. She can’t sing and that’s the fact.

  9. moxie says:

    Talk about making a mountain out of a mole hill. She didn’t say she definitely would have gotten the part; she said she auditioned while she had laryngitis. These a million interviews these actresses give are more scrutinized than the State of the Union Address.

    • Poink says:

      You are so right! I’m guilty of this as well – cant remember the last time I watched a state of the union address. Pathetic.

  10. ernie says:

    I don’t know about you ladies, but I love to hear about which actress auditioned and was considered for a certain role. I do understand how that could be considered tacky to publicly discuss in their world, though.

  11. Tessa says:

    Of course she had laryngitis. Why can’t she just say she didn’t get it? Why’d she have to put the excuse in there? Idiot.

  12. moon says:

    scar’s singing voice is awful, i heard her on youtube once and i was shocked. no range whatsoever

  13. Marni says:

    Amy Adams would have been good, but Hathaway is great. She’s annoying though.

  14. Talie says:

    I can’t imagine Scarlett doing the role…her speaking voice is pretty deep.

    • Irishae says:

      Seriously. It would have sounded like Fantine was already dying from too much whiskey and cigarettes.

  15. Annie says:

    Biel? You’ve got to be kidding me how the hell was she even considered for the part? And ScarJo? I can vaguely imagine her pulling it off. However I’m not sure she would have been prepared to lose all the required weight, she would have been too scared about losing her “sexy and voluptuous” image not to mention had she been nominated she would have been even more annoying than Anne.

  16. lady mary. says:

    love that second pic of Anne showin her dentures ,i could stare at it all day long and laugh insanely.

  17. Angie says:

    It was already revealed Scarjo had auditionned for Les miserables but I thought it was for Eponine, weird. (I read she auditionned along Evan Rachel Wood, Lea Michele, and… Taylor Swift XD).

    I already knew about Jessica Biel. I remember when she whined about all the great roles she losts (catwoman, allie in the notebook…)in Elle magazine. God, she was annoying. AS IF Mrs Timberlake is in the same league, you are right Kaiser.

    At least, Scarjo cknowledge the other actress who got the role and says Anne is good in the movie, even if it was’t necessary and very graceful to say she was sick during her audition for Fantine.
    Biel was just annoying and suggested she could have done a better job but she continues to loose because Hollywood is unfair (and she is just too pretty).
    Scarjo’s excuse was a little better, she was just sick, and that’s why she losts a great part, and not because she is a limited and not a very good actress… Bahaha!

    Personnally, I don’t mind when actors talk about the roles they lost because I love to hear who was also considered for a highly coveted role. But it’s better if they stay classy and praise or acknowledge the other actor who got the part; like when Meryl Streep said she wanted badly the role of Patsy Cline in Sweet Dreams but at the end Jessica Lange was the better choice for the part and she was amazing in that film.

    The worst it’s when an actor talk about a role he/she turned down, IMO. Like when Julia Roberts said she turned down the blind side or Shakespeare in Love just when Bullock and Paltrow were the oscar favorites , it was just nasty and a bitchy move. She can’t let other actresses enjoy their success because you know, IT’s ALL ABOUT JULIA, all the times.

    • Angie says:

      * And continues and to lose.
      Ugh, sorry for all the mistakes and the repetitions. English is not my first language, and I have difficulties to express my mind sometimes. Especially when I wrote a long message.

  18. judyjudy says:

    ScarJo looks great in the first pic.

  19. nannan says:

    Scarlett is fantastic and can do anything she wants perfectly. A song she sang was just nominated for an oscar. I would have preferred her in Les Mis (which I hated). The version with Liam and Uma was much more emotional. Ann is highly overated.

    • La Calabaza says:

      ^this! I re watched that version the other day and cried like a madwoman when Uma’s Fantinne died but the musical I had to turn it off past the first 10 minutes. I couldn’t bare it.

  20. Original A says:

    Hm, Kate Winslet would have been interesting.. ScarJo reminds me that taste is so subjective…The woman has won a tony and has been nominated for minor awards before, yet people on here insist she is awful and humiliating herself by mentioning this blah blah blah. ScarJo is not my cup of tea, but a) they granted her an audition and b) she has the tony and critical praise for her acting in Cat on A Hot Tin Roof….So I really don’t get this idea that is was a deluded for her to audition. Why not? Sometimes, all it takes is the right role.

  21. Lee says:

    “I basically didn’t get the part because I had laryngitis”

    These grapes are sour

  22. moxie says:

    US Weekly isn’t where the original interview even comes from.

    from Broadway Buzz

    We’ve talked about you doing a musical at some point. Is it true that you auditioned to be Fantine in the Les Miz movie?
    Yes, I did. I sang my little heart out.

    Was it terrifying?
    No, are you kidding? The jazz hands kid inside me was just over the moon! And I auditioned with laryngitis. I did everything I could to, like, not have laryngitis. And I think looking at the film now, there’s no possible way I ever could have topped that performance [by Anne Hathaway]. It was perfect and I think fateful and meant to be. But, yes, the audition itself brought back so many memories of auditioning for Les Miz for the young Cosette, and it was fun for me to revisit that.

    context means something

  23. erika says:

    HOLD ON….

    Is she at a dentist appt in the second picture and that’s why she’s smiling like the donkey from the Hee Haw Show!–

    http://janamcg.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/heehaw-donkey.jpg

    and yes, I just about lost my dentures like Anne H. in that picture when I read that JESSICA BIEL auditioned?!?!?! She must get attention/auditons only because she’s JT’s wife…I can’t think of any other reason?

    However, she would have been great for the scenes of Fantine only in her apathetic and perishing state…Biel takes the Oscar for that deadly kind of performance.

  24. mar says:

    Thankful she did not say it was because its because shes too pretty like Jessica I cant act Biel.

  25. La Calabaza says:

    I would prefer Scarlett campaigning that Anne’s currently hot mess. She’s lovely. I’ve always rooted for her since her Lost in Translation’s days.

  26. Jo 'Mama' Besser says:

    Bit of a cop-out, no?

  27. Ais says:

    Scarlett looks a lot more like Fantine based on the original novel and she comes across as younger than Anne but she has a terrible singing voice in my opinion and probably lacks the acting ability to play such an emotional role. Anne Hathaway isn’t the best singer but she acted the hell out of that part.

  28. blah blah blah says:

    Ann is an overrated actress. She lacks depth. I just never get a feeling of “oh, she’s really been scorned.” she’s lead such an easy life, and it shows, or at least that’s how i see it. It’s all bullshit and conditioning. We believe something or someone is good if it is hammered into our brain long enough. she’s betrayed as being one of this generations best and so we believe it. we try to find the good in it. she is good, but she’s isn’t great or anything special.

    • Miss M says:

      It’s Anne with an E. Sorry, It’s probably not appropriate to correct someone, but it takes a bit from her Oscar campaign when people cannot even spell her name properly (sarcasm inserted!), 🙂

  29. Meg says:

    how is jessica even getting these auditons? and it was bitchy of scarjo to say that-she wants people to think she’d never not get a part because of her talents or lack there of-it has to be for some other reason

  30. Kate says:

    ScarJo probably wouldn’t be nominated if she played Fantine. She’s a so-so actress and her singing voice sucks, it would be a disappointment just like Crowe as Javert. ugh.

    But seriously, how did Ann-with-an-E beat Amy Adams to the role? Winslet and Cottillard are better actresses than her too, but I don’t know their singing voices. But Amy would be a wonderful Fantine and the frontrunner to win the Oscar this year 🙁

    • Jo 'Mama' Besser says:

      Adams, Winslet et al. are just far too old to play Fantine. It’s been a while since I read the book, but I believe she’s about nineteen when she gives birth to Cosette, or ‘Euphrasie’. At any rate, she’s dead long before Cosette’s even ten, so it’s a no-go. Plus, I may or may not be sick to death of Kate Winslet and her 20-year ‘they made fun of me decades ago even though I’ve spent way more time looking typically Hollywood and surgically enhanced than I ever did as an outcast’ bitchfest. You became a movie star in your late teens, how about you give up the self-pity now, hm?

  31. lisa says:

    i wish the terminator could go back in time and give scarjo or amy or actually anyone else the part

  32. Peta says:

    I believe I read somewhere that Biel actually auditioned for Tom Hooper via pre-recorded video. She didn’t even do it in person. That might have had a hand in her not getting the role.