5 Stars Were Considered for Lady Gaga's Lead Role in 'A Star Is Born,' Including 1 the Studio Couldn't Afford

Esperanza Spalding

Before Bradley Cooper took over directing the movie and landed the role of the starring man, Clint Eastwood was involved with the project. In 2012, Variety reported that he was considering then up-and-coming jazz artist Esperanza Spalding for the role.

Esperanza won Best New Artist at the Grammys in 2011 and picked up a couple more wins at the 2013 ceremony for her album Radio Music Society.

It isn’t immediately clear how far Esperanza got in the process. However, she was no longer mentioned as a possible frontrunner for the role when Bradley was attached to the project in 2015.

Alicia Keys

Even before Esperanza was considered for the part, there were whispers that Alicia Keys was a frontrunner. In 2002, her manager Jeff Robinson confirmed that she’d been approached and offered a chance to audition. However, he stressed to MTV that they were not interested.

“She was asked to do it,” he explained, “but her first movie shouldn’t be a movie where she’s basically playing herself. I don’t think that’s real acting, playing yourself. I think her first film should be a little more challenging, a little bit more dramatic. A smaller role, then she grows into a starring role. When you’re the focal point of the movie and you’re expected to carry a movie on your back, I think that’s a mistake a lot of singers fall into.”

Alicia made her film debut in Smokin’ Aces in 2006 and starred in The Secret Life of Bees in 2008. It’s her last big film role.