Janet Jackson and Drew Barrymore Reveal Iconic Movie Roles They Turned Down

Janet Jackson and Drew Barrymore are looking back at their acting careers and revealing some iconic movies they passed on.

The singer made a surprise appearance on Friday’s episode of The Drew Barrymore Show, and in a preview clip, Jackson shared which legendary superhero she almost played.

After being asked if she was supposed to star in The Matrix, to which she responded, “No,” Jackson added that she couldn’t remember the film’s name but knew who got the role when she turned it down.

“It was … this is horrible,” the Good Times alum said. “I can’t remember the film, but Halle Berry played Storm.” Barrymore exclaimed in response, “X-Men?”

“I couldn’t because I was just embarking on the Janet tour,” Jackson continued. “But I think that’s what you’re confusing it with. It wasn’t The Matrix.”

Berry debuted her superhero Storm in the 2001 movie, adapted from the Marvel comic book, and reprised her role in X2, X-Men: The Last Stand and X-Men: Days of Future Past.

Barrymore, who can relate to Jackson as she has also passed on projects that she later regretted, proceeded to recall another big film she didn’t take, instead signing on to something else at the time.

“It’s so hard when you, like, are thinking of doing a film and then you don’t end up doing it,” she explained. “I have so many of those experiences. I’ve never said this out loud, Boogie Nights. There was a moment where we were talking about Boogie Nights and I think it’s when I went and did Ever After [A Cinderella Story] and I went in a very different direction.”

While the 50 First Dates actress didn’t share which role she was considered for, the 1997 film Boogie Nights ultimately starred Mark Wahlberg, Julianne Moore, Burt Reynolds and Heather Graham.

The Poetic Justice star hasn’t appeared on the big screen in more than a decade, so when asked if she would be open to returning, she responded, “I would for sure.”