Landing a major television role can change an actor’s life, but many future stars came surprisingly close to parts they never got. From Friends (1994) and Dawson’s Creek (1998) to Game of Thrones (2011), these actors auditioned, tested, and sometimes nearly won roles that ultimately went to someone else.
#1: Emma Stone Failed Her Audition for All That (1994)
At just 12 years old, Emma Stone auditioned for Nickelodeon’s sketch-comedy series All That (1994). Caught off guard when asked to create original characters on short notice, she improvised several ideas. Although she was not cast, the experience became an early chapter in a career that later flourished.
