The Mask played a massive role in establishing Cameron Diaz as one of the biggest Hollywood divas. Diaz was successful in impressing the audiences in her very first outing and flaunted an incredible chemistry with Jim Carrey. However, the 1994 classic’s script was never written for her. The director Chuck Russell’s original choice for the role was Anna Nicole Smith.
The character of Tina Carlyle stands as one of the primary attractions of The Mask. The audience immediately fell in love with Cameron Diaz and she was an instant favorite. Interestingly, the late model Anna Nicole Smith was chosen for the role. However, Smith left the film to work on Naked Gun 33+1⁄3: The Final Insult.
How did Cameron Diaz land the role of Tina Carlyle in The Mask?
The Mask starring Jim Carrey, Cameron Diaz, and Peter Greene is regarded as an iconic superhero comedy film. The film focuses on a common man, Stanley Ipkiss, who gets his hands on a magical wooden mask that transforms him into the titular cartoonish green-faced character.
During an interview with Forbes, producer Robert Engelman said that the director’s original choice for the role was Anna Nicole Smith. As the casting director Fern Champion was searching for models for the role, she spotted Cameron Diaz. Once Chuck Russell spotted her, he was sure that nobody could be more ideal for the role.
In another interview with Variety, the director also shared that when he met the late Playboy model, he did not find the spark in her that was needed to play Tina.
“We met. Anna was charming and bubbly but did not have other qualities needed for the role. I never took the next step to run scenes with her.”
Chuck Russell also added to Forbes that he shot a massive chunk of the film with Cameron Diaz to prove to the studio about her perfection in the role. The chemistry between her and Jim Carrey was brilliant and as expected by the director, it was a huge hit. Made on a budget of $23 million, The Mask went on to collect $351 million worldwide (via Box Office Mojo).
Anna Nicole Smith could not get over losing the blockbuster
As reported by People, Anna Nicole Smith’s agent advised her not to take The Mask for a low pay of $50,000. She went on to star in another comedy film, Naked Gun 33+1⁄3: The Final Insult. While The Mask was a blockbuster, the latter could not collect more than $132 million from the box office.
Smith’s close friend and film producer Ashley Wells Lewis revealed that the actress could not get over the loss.
“She never got over it. I think it could’ve set her off the right path. It certainly didn’t hurt Cameron Diaz.”
Despite Chuck Russell claiming in the Variety interview that he did not proceed very much with Anna Nicole Smith, the late actress’ friends don’t agree with it. Even in the Netflix documentary, Anna Nicole Smith: You Don’t Know Me, the actress claimed how much she was offered for the role. Tragically, Anna Nicole Smith passed away at the age of 39 in 2007 due to combined drug intoxication.
The Mask can be rented on Apple TV+.
