10 Behind-The-Scenes Facts About Our Favorite Rom Coms

Some think rom coms are easy to make — 2 attractive characters for the leading roles, a few giggles here and there, a dramatic kiss, and it’s in the bag. In fact, rom coms can be really challenging to film. Sometimes personalities don’t match, or the ice can’t seem to break between the actors.

Bright Side found 10 facts about our beloved rom coms that prove how amazing they are despite some challenges.

1. Ryan Gosling was cast in The Notebook because he “wasn’t handsome.”

When director Nick Cassavetes told his crew that he wanted to hire Ryan for the lead, everyone looked at him as if he was crazy. Gosling says, “When I got there, he was standing in his backyard, he looked at me and said, ’I want you to play this role because you’re not like other young actors in Hollywood. You’re not handsome, you’re not cool, you’re just a regular guy who looks a bit nuts.’”

2. Drew Barrymore asked Adam Sandler to star in 50 First Dates.

Drew loves making movies with her friend Adam. She “felt it in her bones” that they would be a great team. She personally wrote him a letter on a typewriter asking him to come and play the leading role with her. Sandler liked the idea and agreed to work with her.

3. Helen Fielding wrote Bridget Jones’s Diary because she was too embarrassed to write about herself.

Helen says she was asked to write a column about single life in London. Even though she desperately needed money, she wasn’t ready to reveal her personal life like that. Instead, she offered to write it anonymously under the name of a fictional character, and she thought no one would read it.

4. Pretty Woman is a Disney movie.

The script was sold to Disney, but produced under Touchstone Pictures — a film distribution label for mature audiences. Later, the movie became one of Disney’s most successful and iconic R-rated releases.

5. The Proposal is set in Alaska but was actually filmed in Massachusetts.

The story takes place in Sitka, Andrew’s hometown in Alaska. Nevertheless, it was filmed in Massachusetts and included locations in New York and California as well. Sitka surroundings were skillfully imitated in Essex Country with the help of props and effects.

6. Everyone improvised apart from Jim Carrey in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

The film director Michel Gondry encouraged Winslet, Dunst, and Mark Ruffalo to improvise as much as possible, while Jim Carrey was supposed to avoid it. Gondry would tell him, “This is a drama, not a comedy.” He recollects Jim’s frustration: “Why are they improvising? You told me the opposite!”

7. Marilyn Monroe was supposed to play Holly Golightly.

Initially, Marilyn Monroe was offered the leading role in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. However, the studio refused to hire her because of Marilyn’s behavior. Truman Capote (the novel’s writer) was disappointed with the decision because he felt that Monroe would play the character better since she had similar life stories with Holly.

8. Keira Knightley was only 17 years old at the time of filming Love, Actually.

In fact, Keira Knightley and Thomas Brodie-Sangster didn’t have a big age gap — only 4 years. She was 17 and he was 13. Yet, his youthful appearance made it seem like the difference was considerable.

9. Mark Ruffalo almost turned down the role because of the dance in 13 Going on 30.

The embarrassment you see on his face in the movie is 100% genuine. Jennifer Garner said he lacked dancing experience and couldn’t keep up with her and Greer during rehearsals. He even considered turning down the role because of that. She said, “Judy and I were both dancers growing up, and poor Mark didn’t know that.”

10. Ashton Kutcher could have been Patrick Verona.

Ashton Kutcher could’ve played the role of Patrick Verona, but Heath Ledger beat him out eventually. Kutcher didn’t give that edgy feeling, which Ledger perfectly conveyed. Besides, Heath’s Australian accent gave him a special charm.

How often do you watch rom coms? Who’s your favorite rom com actor/actress?