Cameron Diaz nearly missed out on her star-making debut role in the slapstick fantasy film The Mask, after its director revealed that she was almost pipped to the part by none other than the late model and controversy-magnet Anna Nicole Smith.
She has not acted since 2014, with actress Selma Blair appearing to confirm in 2017 that Diaz had retired.
At the time of The Mask’s filming, Diaz was a largely unknown model and aspiring actor while Smith had found fame as a Playboy model and face of Guess Jeans.
“Anna was charming and bubbly but did not have other qualities needed for the role.