Meg Ryan almost turned down the role

During the 1990s, Meg Ryan was one of the most sought-after Hollywood actresses, alongside Julia Roberts, and she built her status as “America’s darling” with roles in hits like “Sleepless in Seattle,” “You’ve Got Mail,” “French Kiss,” and “City of Angels.” That success began to pose a kind of limitation for the actress, who wanted to show that she could play different roles.

When she was offered the lead role in the 2001 film “Kate and Leopold,” Ryan was initially unsure if she wanted to return to the genre that had made her famous. After years of making romantic comedies, she felt she didn't want to play the same type of character again.

"At first I said I couldn't do another one. But the director James Mangold convinced me. He said this movie was different. It's not really a romantic comedy, it's more of an urban fairy tale. He really talked me into doing it, and he's been a great director for actors," Ryan told the BBC.

The film “Kate & Leopold,” in which she starred with Hugh Jackman, told the story of a love affair between a woman from contemporary New York and a 19th-century duke who mysteriously appears in modern times.

Although the film did not reach the success of her biggest hits from the 1990s, it represented an important moment in the actress's career.