As the cinema world holds its breath before the new James Bond is announced, spare a thought for the rigorous selection process the actor would have had to endure to win the role.
Statistics suggest that actors have to attend around 150 to 200 auditions before they're offered a part. The challenge is amplified by the sheer number of hopefuls chasing each opportunity. For example, over 2,000 youngsters turned up to test for the role of Harry Potter, which of course was eventually offered to Daniel Radcliffe.
Movie auditions are as tough now as they ever were, and in this gallery, we list 30 actors and actresses who won coveted roles in some of the greatest films ever made, but only after beating a host of like-minded A-listers. Read on to learn more about the toughest auditions in history.