Sadly, Natalie Portman and Leonardo DiCaprio were not destined to share the screen in a 1996 production.
Before he became Jack Dawson in Titanic, Leonardo DiCaprio was capturing audiences’ hearts at just 21 years old with his portrayal in Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet.
Although Claire Danes eventually filled the role opposite DiCaprio, movie fans might be surprised to learn that Natalie Portman nearly took on the role of Juliet.
Considering Portman’s impressive performances in films like May December and Jackie, it seems surprising that she wasn’t seen as the perfect fit for Juliet.
However, there was a significant issue when Romeo + Juliet first began production.
The problem? The age difference. Born in 1981, Portman was just 13 years old when production of Romeo + Juliet began.
While the original story depicts Juliet as 13, Luhrmann’s choice to cast an actor of the same age seemed true to the narrative’s roots.
However, considering DiCaprio’s age at the time—21—the age gap became a significant challenge.
The substantial age difference, coupled with the fact that one actor was an adult while the other was still a child, stirred controversy concerning the choice for the iconic lovers.
Portman later reflected on her brief association with the film, stating: “It was a complicated situation and […] at the time I was 13 and Leonardo was 21.”
She explained that it ‘wasn’t appropriate in the eyes of the film company or the director, Baz’.
Consequently, Portman departed from the project, stating: “It was kind of a mutual decision too that it just wasn’t going to be right at the time.”
With Juliet’s role open, Luhrmann selected Danes, who was then known for her role in My So-Called Life.
At 17 years old, Danes had a smaller age gap with DiCaprio, which was deemed acceptable by the filmmakers.