Picture yourself trying out for the role of Frodo Baggins in Peter Jackson’s famous Lord Of The Rings adaptation. It’s a challenging feat for anyone, including someone as respected as Jake Gyllenhaal.
The acclaimed actor shared the details of his less-than-impressive audition for the part, revealing a surprising aspect of his experience in the glamorous world of acting.
No Lines? No Problem For Jake Gyllenhaal
During his appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Jake Gyllenhaal revealed his experience with auditioning for a role in one of the biggest trilogies. Surprisingly, as the actor expressed in his interview with the talk host show, the audition required no spoken dialogue and only involved discovering the one ring in a room.
“I didn’t have any lines to say, it was just stage directions. I had to go into this room, open this thing and find the ring.”
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Despite his vast experience in acting, Jake Gyllenhaal revealed in the interview that this seemingly straightforward challenge was confusing and difficult. In amusement and disbelief, Gyllenhaal asked, “Is that good?” The room’s response was disappointing, conveyed by Peter Jackson’s facepalm.
“I didn’t really understand because there were no lines, so I just walked up and opened it up and asked ‘Is that good?’”
Although the silent audition was confusing, what followed was unforgettable. The movie features primarily British accents, but Jake Gyllenhaal shares that he opted for a unique interpretation. The outcome was a scene that attracted attention for all the wrong reasons. Jackson’s response was clear and harsh.
“Then I had a scene with lines where everyone had a British accent and I didn’t do one. [Jackson] turned to me and goes ‘You are the worst actor that I have ever seen. Did anyone tell you you’re supposed to have an accent? Well fire your agents’”.
The director criticized Gyllenhaal’s obvious mistake with a sharpness that could be compared to Orcish steel.
Gyllenhaal has also encountered rejection in places other than middle-earth. The actor, known for immersing himself in his roles, recently disclosed another missed opportunity from his early career.
Not Just Middle-Earth: Other Missed Opportunities
It may surprise fans, but Jake Gyllenhaal also tried out for a role in the 2000 slapstick teen comedy Dude, Where’s My Car?, which eventually went to Ashton Kutcher and Seann William Scott.
Gyllenhaal’s sheer determination and ability to bounce back distinguishes him. The actor went from being rejected for the role of Frodo to receiving acclaim for his performances in movies such as Brokeback Mountain and Nightcrawler.
After facing a disheartening rejection for Frodo in Lord Of The Rings, Jake Gyllenhaal’s journey took a riveting turn. Rather than wallow in the shadows of middle-earth missed opportunity, he carved a niche in Hollywood, delivering unforgettable performances that have since become cinematic benchmarks.
The Lord of the Rings trilogy is available for streaming on Max.
Source: YouTube
