Over 20 years after the release of the iconic and classic drama The Notebook, never seen before, footage of Britney Spears’ audition alongside Ryan Gosling has come to the surface. The singer’s clip, which shows her playing Allie, has been published by the Daily Mail and shows the award-winning singer in character.
“I’m not staying; I tried to call you to tell you that I wasn’t going to stay—but nobody answered the phone,” she says before becoming emotional. “Noah, you can’t marry two people. And I’m marrying Lon, so I should go, okay?” she adds as she breaks the news to Noah (Ryan) that she’s marrying Lon (James Marsden).
Although Britney didn’t end up starring in the 2004 romantic drama, as Rachel McAdams ended up playing Allie, the film’s casting director, Michael Barry, revealed to the publication that he will always remember her audition.
“Britney wasn’t just good—she was phenomenal,” he told the Daily Mail. “It was a tough decision. Britney blew us all away. Our jaws were on the floor. I was blown away. Absolutely blown away. She brought her A-game that day.”
Spears, who has been at the center of media attention and controversies for years, released her new memoir, “The Woman In Me,” on October 24. In her book, she candidly addresses a long-standing rumor about her infidelity with choreographer Wade Robson during her relationship with former boyfriend, Justin Timberlake.
She also discussed losing the role. “Even though it would have been fun to reconnect with Ryan Gosling after our time on the Mickey Mouse Club, I’m glad I didn’t do it,” she said. “I imagine there are people in the acting field who have dealt with something like that, where they had trouble separating themselves from a character. I hope I never get close to that occupational hazard again. Living that way, being half yourself and half a fictional character, is messed up. After a while you don’t know what’s real anymore.”