American actress Kate Hudson has recently revealed which major film role she once turned down.
The 46-year-old actress appeared on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, where she disclosed that she had declined the role of Mary Jane in the 2002 film Spider-Man. The role ultimately went to Kirsten Dunst. When asked whether she regretted the decision, Hudson gave a thoughtful response.
“You know, it’s kind of funny. When people bring things like this up, I don’t feel totally comfortable talking about it because the people involved are real people, and life circumstances happen the way they happen,” Hudson said. “Yes, I did regret it. Looking back now, it’s one of those things where I think, ‘It would have been cool to be in a Spider-Man movie.’”
As host Andy Cohen pointed out, the role later led to multiple sequels, with Dunst starring alongside Tobey Maguire in the 2004 and 2007 follow-up films.
Hudson explained that she turned down the Mary Jane role because she had committed to another project at the same time: The Four Feathers, in which she starred opposite Heath Ledger.
“At the same time, I was filming The Four Feathers. I met Heath Ledger, who became a very close friend, and I gained an experience I never would have had otherwise,” she said. “So part of me thinks, ‘Life happens exactly the way it’s supposed to.’ That’s why I’m grateful for it.”
In a 2021 interview with Variety, Dunst said she would be open to reprising her role as Mary Jane, calling the idea “fun.”
Meanwhile, Hudson is set to star in the upcoming film Song Sung Blue alongside Hugh Jackman, who recently said that Hudson deserves an Oscar for her performance.
