Natalie Portman Was Set To Star Opposite Leonardo DiCaprio In ‘Romeo+Juliet’ But Got Kicked Off The Cast Due To An Interesting Controversy
How Natalie Portman lost her role to Claire Danes.
Hollywood casting is a wild ride. One minute, you're gearing up to play one of literature’s most iconic roles; the next, you're off the project entirely. That’s the story of Natalie Portman, who nearly starred opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in Baz Luhrmann's 1996 masterpiece Romeo + Juliet.
You know the one—flamboyant Hawaiian shirts, a killer ’90s soundtrack, and a brooding DiCaprio breaking teenage hearts worldwide. While Claire Danes ultimately stole the screen as Juliet, it turns out that role almost went to a young Natalie Portman.
Yes, before Claire Danes donned angel wings and made us believe in Shakespearean love all over again, Portman was the frontrunner to embody the Shakesperean heiress.
Long before Titanic launched Leonardo DiCaprio into global fame, he was already winning hearts. He was set to play the lovestruck Romeo Montague in Baz Luhrmann’s bold, electrifying reimagining of Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy.
Everything about the film was bold and groundbreaking—from the neon-soaked visuals to the contemporary soundtrack featuring Garbage and Radiohead.
Portman, on the other hand, was just beginning her career at the time. Considering her stellar breakout performance in Léon: The Professional, you’d think she’d have been perfect for starring alongside DiCaprio—and technically, she was.
In fact, Portman was cast early in the production process. However, one major snag ended up getting her completely booted off the project.
For those who live under a rock—or simply need a refresher—here’s a peek into Luhrmann’s high-energy, bold, modern twist on Shakespeare’s classic
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You see, Portman was thirteen at the time, and her would-be Romeo, DiCaprio, was twenty-one. Awkward, right? The significant age gap between a teenager and an adult actor made their on-screen romance less "star-crossed lovers" and more "questionable optics."
A young Natalie Portman almost joined Leonardo DiCaprio in this iconic adaptation. Oh, the sorrow for what could’ve been
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Baz Luhrmann initially aimed for authenticity, casting a 13-year-old Portman to reflect Juliet’s actual age in Shakespeare’s play. Sadly, in practice, the dynamics just didn’t work.
Test footage reportedly showed that the chemistry between a teenage Portman and DiCaprio felt more uncomfortable than romantic. This highlighted the awkward reality of their age gap.
Leo channeling Romeo’s heartbreak—or maybe just reacting to Natalie Portman’s departure from the project
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Portman later described the situation as “complicated,” emphasizing that it was a mutual decision for her to step away. “It was kind of a mutual decision too that it just wasn’t going to be right at the time,” she explained.
While she was disappointed, it seems like everyone involved recognized it was the best move. After all, when your leads’ age difference sparks more controversy than chemistry, it’s time to hit pause.
With Portman out, the coveted role of Juliet became up for grabs. This brings us to Claire Danes, who was fresh off her success in My So-Called Life.
At 17, she was closer in age to DiCaprio, making their on-screen romance more palatable. The change worked wonders, and Danes delivered a heartfelt performance that earned the film critical acclaim.
While it’s fascinating to imagine how Portman might have interpreted Juliet, the casting shake-up ultimately made sense. And given her subsequent Oscar-winning career, it’s safe to say things worked out just fine for her.
As for us, we’ll always have Luhrmann’s dazzling Romeo + Juliet to swoon over—while wondering what could’ve been if Portman had been a little bit older.
Jesse
