Alternative Hollywood

Imagine another Hollywood - the one that could have been if only Pamela or Keira or Britney had got that role!

The hot gossip in this twisted Tinseltown is Nicole Kidman's red-hot romance with Brad Pitt, and love rat Jude Law's break-up with Billie Piper.

Brunette bombshell Pamela Anderson is tottering down Wisteria Lane for the highly anticipated second season of Desperate Housewives and Britney Spears is getting all revved up for the Dukes of Hazzard, as well as her baby.

It's a weird celebrity world but one that could so easily have been a reality if those all-powerful casting directors hadn't changed their mind or the stars themselves hadn't had a change of heart about what might have been their big chance.

One star's missed opportunity is another star's dream come true, but some celebs just can't help wishing they were in that other Hollywood, where there's no need to wonder what might have been.

Mr & Mrs Smith - starring Nicole Kidman

Brad Pitt would have got got to grips with Angelina Jolie on or off the screen if it hadn't been for Nicole Kidman's hectic world schedule. The Aussie superstar and equally available Hollywood hottie was all ready to be Brad's missus in the action thriller but pulled out because of a clash with her commitments to The Interpreter and Bewitched. In this weird Hollywood it is Nicole that Brad gets down and dirty with on-screen, and Nicole that gets Jennifer Aniston jumpy about her soon to be ex-husband.

Desperate Housewives - starring Pamela Anderson

Teri Hatcher became one of the hottest women in Hollywood when she landed in Wisteria Lane, but in our alternative reality it's Baywatch babe Pamela Anderson who's Desperate. The busty former Playmate turned down the role of Susan before Teri came along because she refused to be browned off. "Pammie freaked when the producers said that she'd have to be a brunette," reports a show insider. "She also thought the show would be a flop, so they turned to Teri."

Dukes of Hazzard - starring Britney Spears

The princess of pop and Jessica Simpson were neck-and-neck in the race to play Daisy in the movie remake of the hit TV show, but it was Jessica who got her buns on the line first. "I wanna wear those shorts so bad," she said at beating Britney.

Alfie - starring Jude Law and Billie Piper

Even in another reality, Jude is first choice to play Cockney Casanova Alfie, but the role of his most famous conquest was not so assured. Before she jumped on board Dr Who, Billie Piper was rivaling Sienna Miller for the part of Nikki - and who knows, Jude's affections too?

Daredevil - starring Matt Damon

It was as blind super-hero Daredevil that Ben Affleck first stumbled across new wife Jennifer Garner. How ironic then that it is his showbiz best buddy Matt Damon who could so easily have kept Ben out of a job and in a tempestuous relationship with Jennifer Lopez. Matt was reportedly in the running to play Daredevil but was pipped to the role - and the girl - by Ben. "I had talks but Ben was the right choice," says Matt.

V for Vendetta - starring Keira Knightley

British babe Keira Knightley almost had a close shave as a female vigilante but lost out to her American look-a-like Natalie Portman. It seems the producers got the right girl though. Natalie said: "Some people think I'm a neo-Nazi or that I have cancer or that I'm a lesbian," she laughs. "But after all the crazy hairstyles I've had to ensure in films, it's quite liberating to have no hair - especially in the heat."

The Matrix - starring Will Smith

Will was "too confused" about the premise of the movie to take the role as Neo, leaving it instead for Keanu Reeves to bamboozle the rest of us.