Many performers rue the roles that slipped through their fingers. It's far more unusual for an actor to gladly decline a major job, especially one in a well-known franchise. Alan Cumming of The Good Wife, on the other hand, is open about turning down a major role in Harry Potter. In fact, he doesn't appear to have any regrets, as he was forthright in his explanation of why he declined.

He said, “I didn't turn it down. I told them to fuck off! They wanted me and Rupert Everett to do a screen test, and they said they couldn't pay me more than a certain sum, they just didn't have any more money in the budget. And I had the same agent as Rupert, who of course, they were going to pay more. Blatantly lying, stupidly lying, as well. Like, if you're going to lie, be clever about it. I said, tell them to fuck right off. And thought, well Rupert's going to get the part. They gave him a screen test, and I remember he brought his own wig. And then they fucking gave it to Kenneth Branagh, came out of the shadows.”