The Inside Scoop: Revealing Britney Spears' Audition for 'The Notebook'
'The Notebook' casting director reveals Britney Spears' jaw-dropping audition for Allie Hamilton, describing it as a truly extraordinary performance Encouraging her to make a triumphant comeback to acting, the director praises Spears' incredible talent and urges fans to anticipate her remarkable on-screen presence once again
Britney Spears Michael Kovac/Getty Images for City of Hope
A video of Britney Spears' audition for The Notebook has recently resurfaced, and the casting director of the film is revealing additional details about what took place behind-the-scenes. Posted on October 23 by the Daily Mail, the two-plus minute clip features a 21-year-old Spears delivering an emotional monologue as the character Allie Hamilton, while Ryan Gosling, who was off-camera, reads lines as Noah. Ultimately, Rachel McAdams secured the role, and the romantic period drama, which is based on Nicholas Sparks' novel of the same title, was released in 2004.
In the scene, Spears, portraying the character of Allie, is torn between Noah, a former lover whom she has recently reunited with, and her affluent fiancé, Lon.
As tears fill her eyes, Spears expresses in the video, "I actually prayed for your demise during the war, not literally death. I would have been devastated if you had died. However, I didn't want you to be alive anymore, as the idea of you being with someone else or us never crossing paths again was unbearable for me. So, I have made the decision to leave, alright?"
The singer's tears flow as she delivers the emotionally intense lyrics, captivating casting director Matthew Barry who exclaimed, "She exceeded all expectations."
"Britney Spears was nothing short of extraordinary. Truly extraordinary," Barry raved to Entertainment Tonight. "Britney entered the room and left us all speechless."
Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams in ‘The Notebook.’ Cover Images
The casting director shared insights into Spears and Gosling's chemistry during the audition process. The duo had previously worked together on The All New Mickey Mouse Club in the 1990s.
According to Barry, they were both highly professional. He noted that director Nick Cassavetes could be intimidating with his towering height of 6 foot 5, but Ryan was supportive and allowed Britney the opportunity to meet with Nick and talk about the role and the character. Barry added that after the auditions were done, it was a joyful reunion between them.
Barry acknowledged that Spears may have drawn inspiration from her widely publicized split with Justin Timberlake prior to the audition. In her recently published memoir, titled The Woman in Me, Spears disclosed that she had undergone an abortion while involved with the 'NSync vocalist.
"We were unaware," Barry stated. "I believe she truly delved into her emotional depths and expressed them. She demonstrated her vulnerability, her emotional authenticity, and she was absolutely remarkable. She left everything on the table."
Barry acknowledged that Spears was considered a strong candidate for the role, but ultimately McAdams was more suitable.
"Rachel impressed us greatly," he stated. "Britney auditioned first, and then shortly after, Rachel came in and completely blew us away. It was a tough decision between the two of them, with lots of debates, as is typical in any film production. I believe the studio may have preferred Britney for obvious reasons, but Rachel truly owned the role."
In her book, Spears expresses her gratitude for not taking on the film role.
According to Spears, the casting for "The Notebook" was narrowed down to her and Rachel McAdams. Despite the prospect of reuniting with Ryan Gosling from their time on The Mickey Mouse Club, she states that she's relieved she didn't pursue the opportunity.
In an excerpt published by People earlier this month, she writes, "If I had accepted, instead of focusing on my album 'In the Zone,' I would have been immersed in acting like a 1940s heiress day and night."
The singer admitted that she became excessively immersed in her character during the production of the 2001 film Crossroads.
"I believe I unintentionally adopted Method acting, unable to disconnect myself from the character [Lucy]," she stated. "I felt as though a haze enveloped me, transforming me into this girl named Lucy. Whenever the camera started rolling, I genuinely became her, losing sight of the line between reality and fiction."
Barry encouraged Spears to resume her acting career, despite not getting the role of Allie. "I'm pleased that her fans have finally had the opportunity to see the audition footage," he commented. Later, he urged her, "Come back, we need you. We all need you to come train with me."
