Andrew Garfield Told He Was Not Handsome Enough For Film Role

Andrew Garfield is one of the biggest names in Hollywood.

Having starred as Peter Parker in three Spider-Man films, The Social Network and last year's Netflix release Tick, Tick... Boom! he's no stranger to leading movie.

But it's not always been plain sailing for the British actor.

During the early days of his career, Garfield revealed that there was one role he really, really wanted, but producers just didn't think he was good looking enough for the part.

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight about the rejection, the 38-year-old said: "I remember I was so desperate. I auditioned for Prince Caspian in ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ and I thought, 'This could be it, this could be it'.

"And that handsome, brilliant actor Ben Barnes ended up getting the role. I think it was down to me and him, and I remember I was obsessed."

Disney

When he spoke to his agent about the decision, she said he wasn't the right fit.

Garfield recalled: "Why not me? She eventually just broke under my incessant nagging and she was, like, 'It’s because they don’t think you’re handsome enough, Andrew'.

"Ben Barnes is a very handsome, talented man, so in retrospect, I’m not unhappy with the decision and I think he did a beautiful job."

But it doesn't seem to have held him back too much, with Garfield enjoying plenty of success in recent years.

He even reprised his role as the friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man last month in the smash hit No Way Home.

And it was revealed recently that he didn't think twice about signing up when he was offered the job.

By December 2020, both Garfield and Tobey Maguire were secretly signed on to the project and were yet to receive scripts, as per Hollywood Reporter.

Speaking about the duo, screenwriter Erik Sommers said: "They had thoughts, and it was really interesting and helpful to see their thoughts.

Alamy

"No one knows the character as well as — or gives as much thought to the character — as someone who has to then embody it and sell it. … It definitely shaped what we did."

Chris McKenna, another screenwriter, added: "They had great ideas that really elevated everything we were going for and added layers and an arc and we really actually started honing into the idea that these two guys were really helping Tom’s Peter on his journey to becoming who he ends up becoming.

"There’s a crucial, moral moment that they help him get through in the climax of the movie.

"So much of that was brought by Tobey and Andrew’s ideas and shaping of what they thought their characters could bring to this story."

Topics: Spider-Man, TV and Film, UK News, US News, Andrew Garfield

Dominic Smithers

Dominic Smithers is LADbible's Editorial Lead. After graduating from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History, he went on to write for the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express. So as you can imagine, he’s spent many a night wondering just how useful that second language has been. But c'est la vie.

@SmithersDom