Second Choice Oscar Winners: Women Quiz

Answer: Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep established herself as one of the all time great actresses with her riveting performance in "Sophie's Choice" (1982) playing a Holocaust survivor faced with survivor's guilt. But she was not the first choice for the role.

Ursula Andress, the very first Bond Girl, was at the top of the list. Other actresses who were in consideration included Sally Field, Lynn Redgrave, Hanna Schygulla and Natalie Wood.

Among other roles that Andress turned down were "One Million Years BC" (1966), which went to Racquel Welch, and "Valley of the Dolls" (1967) which starred Sharon Tate.

Alternate reality films starring Meryl Streep include "Fatal Attraction", which she turned down (Glenn Close), "Remains of the Day", which she also turned down (Emma Thompson) and a version of "Thelma and Louise" with Goldie Hawn.

Answer: Jodie Foster

Jodie Foster won her first Academy Award for her performance as Sarah Tobias in "The Accused" (1988). But she was far from a lock for the role.

Kim Basinger turned down the role because she thought Jodie Foster would be better. Other actresses who declined were Joan Cusack, Tatum O'Neil and Debra Winger. Jennifer Jason Leigh was also up for the role but lost out to Foster during auditions.

Other almost films for Kim Basinger: "Ghost" (1990), "The Last Temptation of Christ" (1988), "Risky Business" (1983), "Sleepless in Seattle" (1993) and "Speed" (1994). She was considered for Clarice Starling, but wasn't offered the role.

There is an alternate universe where Jodie Foster did not turn down the lead female role in "Manhattan" (1979), "Adventures in Babysitting" (1987), "Conspiracy Theory"(1997) and "Sleepless in Seattle" (1993).

Answer: Kathy Bates

"I'm your biggest fan." Kathy Bates won an Academy Award for playing Annie Wilkes, the world's most terrifying fan. But she wasn't the first choice for the Stephen King film.

Several actresses passed on playing Wilkes, including Bette Midler, Anjelica Huston, Barbara Streisand and Debra Winger.

Midler also turned down the chance to play Adrian in "Rocky" (1976) and Sister Mary Clarence in "Sister Act" (1992). But in some alternate universe there is a version of "Chicago" (2002) starring Bates as Mama Morton.

Answer: Jodie Foster

In retrospect, it is hard to imagine someone other than Jodie Foster as FBI agent Clarice Starling. Her interplay with Anthony Hopkins was brilliant. But as with the role of Hannibal Lecter, there were multiple possibilities for Starling.

Michelle Pfeiffer turned down the role, as did Geena Davis and Emma Thompson. Among the other actresses considered for the role were Ellen Barkin, Kim Basinger, Andy McDowell and Madeline Stowe.

Other films which might have starred Pfeiffer include "Basic Instinct" (1992), "Disclosure" (1994), "Mystic River" (2003) and "Thelma and Louise" (1991).

There is an alternate universe in which Jodie Foster starred in "Fight Club" (1999) as Marla, "Star Wars" (1997) as Princess Leia and "Thelma and Louise" (1991) as Louise.

Answer: Helen Hunt

Helen Hunt took an Academy Award for playing waitress Carol Connelly opposite Jack Nicholson in "As Good as it Gets" (1997). She can thank Holly Hunter for giving her the opportunity.

Hunter was offered the role, but turned it down because she didn't like the age difference between her character and Nicholson. Both Melanie Griffith and Uma Thurman were also considered for the role of Carol. Hunter already had an Academy Award, for playing Ada McGarth in "The Piano" (1993). Ironically, she wasn't the first choice for that film.

Helen Hunt did turn down the role of Thelma in "Thelma and Louise" (1991) and also took a pass on being part of the "X-Men" universe when she turned down Jean Grey.

Answer: Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwneth Paltrow won her Academy Award as Viola de Lesseps, the lover of William Shakespeare in the aptly titled "Shakespeare in Love" (1998). But she can thank Kate Winslet for turning down the role.

Paltrow can also thank Nicole Kidman, Penelope Ann Miller and Julia Roberts, who were all offered Viola. At one point, almost every go-to actress in Hollywood was considered, including Jodie Foster, Helen Hunt, Michelle Pfeiffer, Meg Ryan and Debra Winger.

There are a variety of "never mades" with Kate Winslet. They include "Daredevil" (2003), "Stage Beauty" (2004) and "Unfaithful" (2002). Winslet is another actress who could have been in the "X-Men" franchise; she turned down the role of Rogue. Winslet eventually won the Academy Award for her role in "The Reader" (2008) but almost missed out due to filming commitments on "Revolutionary Road" (also 2008).

Gwyneth Paltrow has taken a pass on a wide variety of roles. Alternate universe films that could have starred her include "Boogie Nights" as Rollergirl, "Legally Blonde" as Elle Woods, "The Ring" as Rachel, and even Rose in "Titanic" (1997).

Answer: Halle Berry

Halle Berry won the Academy Award for playing grieving widow Leticia Musgove, but she wasn't the first choice for the role.

Angela Bassett turned down the role. She also turned down the chance to be Storm in the "X-Men" franchise. Halle Berry should really send her a fruit basket.

Whitney Houston and Vanessa Williams were both offered "Monster's Ball" but turned it down because of the nudity in the role.

Among the "might have beens" for Halle Berry are being Annie in "Speed" (1994) (Sandra Bullock thanks her) and Fox in "Wanted" (2008). Halle managed to dodge a bullet by avoiding "Gigli" (2003) and "The Adventures of Pluto Nash" (2002), two of the worst films of the decade.

Answer: Hilary Swank

Hilary Swank took home her second Oscar for playing boxer turned paraplegic Maggie Fitzgerald in "Million Dollar Baby." (2004). But she was not the first choice of producers.

Sandra Bullock was offered the role of Fitzgerald, but turned it down because she didn't want to work with director Clint Eastwood.

Hilary Swank did turn down the role in "Unfaithful" (2002) that went to Diane Lane. She was also in consideration for Roxie in "Chicago" (2002) which earned Renee Zellweger an Oscar nomination.

Answer: Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence became a major star with her stunning performance as Tiffany in "Silver Linings Playbook" (2012). But it almost didn't happen.

Anna Hathaway was originally signed up to play Tiffany, but she left the role when she realized that Lawrence would be better in it. Hathaway would win her own Academy Award for her role as Fantine in "Les Miserables" (2012) at the same ceremonies, so it all worked out in the end.

Kristen Stewart is best known as Bella Swan in the "Twilight" series. Australian actress Margot Robbie gained fame as Naomi in "The Wolf of Wall Street" (2013).

Answer: Emma Stone

Emma Stone took home an Academy Award as aspiring actress Mia Dolan in Damien Chazelle's "La La Land" (2016). But she can thank Emma Watson for being too busy.

At one point during the production of "La La Land" Watson and Miles Teller were cast to play the leads that ultimately went to Stone and Ryan Gosling. Watson said that filming commitments for the Disney live action film "Beauty and the Beast" (2017) forced her to abandon "La La Land."

Emma Roberts is the daughter of Eric and niece of Julia. While she was not up for "La La Land" she did decline "Bride Wars" (2009) and "The Other Boleyn Girl" (2008).

Natalie Portman won an Academy Award for "Black Swan" (2010) making her the first actress born in the 1980s to win Best Actress. She is another actress who declined being in the "X-Men" universe, turning down the role of Rogue (Anna Paquin thanks her).