John Leguizamo, a seasoned actor with a career spanning over three decades, recently opened up about some of the pivotal decisions that shaped his journey in Hollywood. Known for his diverse roles from the animated character Sid in “Ice Age” to the vibrant world of “Moulin Rouge!”, Leguizamo has become a staple in the entertainment industry. Yet, despite his success, there are roles he passed on that haunt him to this day.
A String of Missed Hits: Leguizamo’s Career “What Ifs”
In an introspective interview with Business Insider, Leguizamo candidly discussed the opportunities he declined that later became major hits. One of the first roles he turned down was Stanley Tucci’s character Nigel in “The Devil Wears Prada.” Leguizamo admits that at the time, the decision seemed right but retrospectively, it was a missed opportunity that he still ruminates over.
Further compounding his regrets, Leguizamo also declined a role in the animated hit “Happy Feet,” which was subsequently voiced by Robin Williams. His reasoning was tied to his existing commitments to the “Ice Age” series, fearing typecasting in animated films.
John Leguizamo regrets turning down "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," but he says "I felt dissed" at the time over his salary offer.
"They were paying [Brad and Angelina] $20 million and they were going to pay me scale. I felt dissed, and they probably weren’t dissing me, but I felt dissed,”… pic.twitter.com/VqgapJPJqh
— Variety (@Variety) May 10, 2024
“And Happy Feet, I had done Ice Age. I was going, ‘I don’t want to be doing all these ice movies.’ Such a stupid reason. But it seemed logical to me at the moment, and then I lost out on millions,” Leguizamo recounted.
The Biggest Regret: Turning Down “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”
Among the roles he passed on, none seems to linger in his memory quite like the blockbuster hit “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Leguizamo’s decision was influenced by a misunderstanding about the film’s pay structure. Initially, he felt slighted by the offer to work for scale while the leads received multimillion-dollar salaries.
“Well, for Mr. & Mrs. Smith, it was because they were paying them $20 million and they were going to pay me scale. I felt dissed, and they probably weren’t dissing me, but I felt dissed,” Leguizamo explained.
This sentiment was further complicated by his experiences as a person of color in Hollywood, where he felt predisposed to perceive inequality.
“Sometimes when you’re a person of color, you’re so used to being dissed that you think you’re being dissed, and sometimes you’re not being dissed. So that’s what happens, and you have to go to a lot of therapy to fix that,” he added.
Reflection and Growth: Learning from Past Decisions
Leguizamo’s reflections reveal a deep sense of self-awareness about the nature of the industry and his reactions to it. His experiences underline the complex interplay of race, perception, and self-worth that often influence decisions in Hollywood. Though the role in “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” eventually went to Vince Vaughn, Leguizamo’s candidness about his regrets offers a glimpse into the personal growth that sometimes follows professional disappointments.
As John Leguizamo continues to navigate his career, his openness about the paths not taken sheds light on the often unseen emotional landscape of actors. His journey underscores not only the successes but also the introspective moments that define a life in the spotlight.