Things You Might Not Know About The Notebook
Published on October 13, 2015. Updated June 22, 2020The Notebook is one of those romantic dramas that people cannot forget. It turned Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling into household names and practically redefined romance for all of us. We all want to find our Noahs and we all want to be Allie – they were that awesome. Since The Notebook is still ridiculously popular, here are 10 things you didn’t know about the movie:
10. It Could Have Been a Totally Different Movie
Before Nick Cassavetes was attached to the movie, Steven Spielberg was interested in directing The Notebook. He wanted to cast Tom Cruise as Noah Calhoun. Spielberg had to pass on The Notebook because of his commitments to other projects. Justin Timberlake was also reportedly attached to the film at some other point.
Everett Collection / Shutterstock.com9. Ryan Gosling Was the One
Ryan Gosling was director Nick Cassavetes’ only choice for Noah. He was cast because he was unknown at that point and because he was not handsome by Hollywood standards.
Source: Gran Via8. Ryan Gosling Wasn’t So Sure…
Ryan Gosling wasn’t so sure that he was right for the part of Noah: “I read [the script] and I thought, ‘He’s crazy. I couldn’t be more wrong for this movie.’”
Source: Gran Via7. Rachel McAdams Had some Stiff Competition
Rachel McAdams beat out several other actresses for the role of Allie. Some of them include Jessica Biel, Britney Spears, Ashley Judd and Reese Witherspoon.
s_bukley / Shutterstock.com6. Rachel McAdams’ Audition
Rachel McAdams received the script the night before her audition when she was at another film’s premiere, but she still nailed it.
5. Ryan Gosling’s Preparation
In preparation for his role as Noah, Ryan Gosling moved to Charleston, South Carolina, and spent two months rowing the Ashley River and making furniture.
Source: Gran Via4. Rachel McAdams’ Preparation
Before filming, Rachel McAdams took ballet and etiquette classes. She also had a dialect coach to learn the southern accent.
Source: Gran Via3. Brown Contacts
For filming, Ryan Gosling wore brown contacts through filming because James Garner – who played his character Noah when he was older – had brown eyes.
Copyright 2004 by Debbie VanStory/Abaca2. It Was Filmed in Reverse
The shots at the beginning of the film were filmed last. For the shots at the beginning if the film, Ryan Gosling had to lose twenty pounds of muscle during Christmas vacation and get rid of the beard.
(c) New Line/courtesy Everett Collection1. Like Oil and Water
When they first started filming, Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams didn’t get along. “Maybe I’m not supposed to tell this story, but they were really not getting along one day on set. Really not,” Nick Cassavetes said. “And Ryan came to me, and there’s 150 people standing in this big scene, and he says, ‘Nick come here.’ He’s doing a scene with Rachel and he says, ‘Would you take her out of here and bring in another actress to read off camera with me?’ ‘I said, ‘What?’ He says, ‘I can’t. I can’t do it with her. I’m just not getting anything from this.’…[later] we went into a room with a producer; they started screaming and yelling at each other. I walked out…And it got better after that, you know?”
c) New Line/courtesy Everett Collection