Ted Lassostar Juno Temple discusses being rejected for the starring role in Tim Burton’sAlice in Wonderland.Mia Wasikowska played Alice in the 2010 live-action Disney remakeand reprised the role in the 2016 sequelAlice Through the Looking Glass. While both films are generally not considered to beTim Burton’s best movies,Alice in Wonderlandearned more than $1 billion at the worldwide box office, and both projects would have been major opportunities for Temple earlier in her career.
While speaking withInterview Magazine,Temple recalled how devastated she was when she not only lost the role but did not even get an audition for it. She explained how she was a lifelong fan of Lewis Carroll’sAlice in Wonderlandand that playing Alice was a dream role, which made the lack of even an audition devastating for her. However, Temple emphasizes that this rejection taught her a valuable lesson when moving forward in her career. Check out her comments below:
I think quite early on in a career, you have to be able to understand why the ‘no’ is happening. Of course, you can’t help but take it personally sometimes. I was 17 when Tim Burton madeAlice in Wonderland. I have a first edition copy ofAlice in Wonderlandthat I actually sleep with on my bedside table like it’s the Bible.
But it was a dream role for me. I wanted to play Alice so badly. I remember my agent called, and the first thing he said was, “Are you sitting down? We just wanted to tell you that Tim Burton doesn’t think you are right for Alice, so there’s actually not going to be an audition for it.” I was devastated.
No, but wait. I watched the movie. And this was a really important realization for me at 17 years old– I wasn’t right for Alice. I’m the Queen of Hearts. When you see a final product, it always makes sense as to why you were not the fit for that role at that moment in time. I auditioned for a few of those Disney remakes. And it’s like, I’m not Cinderella.
What This Meant For Juno Temple
She Was Not Typecast As A Disney Heroine
While it was incredibly disappointing for Temple to not even have the chance to audition for the role of Alice, it ultimately did not hurt the trajectory of her career. Her performance asKeeley Jones inTed Lassowas critically acclaimed and earned her an Emmy Award nomination.Temple’s role inFargoseason 5 received a great deal of recognition as well, and now she has played the prominent role of Dr. Teddy Payne in the Sony Marvel movieVenom: The Last Dance.
IfAlice in Wonderlandhad been her breakout role, Temple may have typecast to play similar characters, and would not have gotten the roles where she truly excelled later in her career.
By not being cast as Alice, and also not getting the lead role when auditioning for several otherDisney live-action remakes,Temple realized that she was not best suited to playing Alice or Disney princesses like Cinderella. Her talents are more aligned with playing a villain like the Queen of Hearts or a character who is deeply nuanced in the way that Keeley is inTed Lasso. IfAlice in Wonderlandhad been her breakout role, Temple may have typecast to play similar characters, and would not have gotten the roles where she truly excelled later in her career.
Our Take On Juno Temple’s Comments
Her Story Is Similar To Another Major Star
Temple’s disappointment at not being cast inAlice in Wonderlandis reminiscent ofJenna Ortega sharing her disappointmentat not being cast in Burton’sDumbo. Both instances are reminders that even major movie stars have had their fair share of disappointments in their careers. Not being cast in a live-action Disney remake directed by the legendary Burton felt like the ultimate letdown, butboth Temple and Ortega ultimately benefited from this, and their careers are thriving. Temple’s career is better off for having not starred inAlice in Wonderland.
Alice in Wonderland
Cast
Alice in Wonderland is a 2010 fantasy adventure film directed by Tim Burton. It stars Mia Wasikowska as Alice, who returns to the magical world of Wonderland to confront the tyrannical Red Queen, played by Helena Bonham Carter. The film features Johnny Depp as the eccentric Mad Hatter and Anne Hathaway as the benevolent White Queen. This reimagining of Lewis Carroll’s classic tale combines live-action and CGI elements.
