Before they were big: casting young Scarlett Johansson, Alec Baldwin, Sean Penn, Mickey Rourke and more

Who cast Mickey Rourke, Scarlett Johansson, Sean Penn, Alec Baldwin, Tim Robbins, Ralph Fiennes,
Russell Crowe, Nicole Kidman, Brad Pitt, George Clooney and Halle Berry in their early career-making films?

Legendary casting director Bonnie Timmermann.

 She talks with Elle magazine about casting some of today’s biggest stars back when they were fresh-faced newcomers. 

Here’s her memory about casting a young Mickey Rourke in “The Pope of Greenwich Village” in 1984:

Here’s the kind of human being he is: I had spoken to Mickey just after
my father Joe had died unexpectedly. He knew my father was a boxer. Very soon,
an iridescent shopping bag — really flamboyant — arrived. Inside was a boxing glove
that every major boxer had signed for Mickey, from Spinks to Ali to Foreman.
And he’d written on it: “To Bonnie, Joe loves you, he’s watching out for his
little girl. Don’t worry — everything will be okay. Love, Mickey.” The glove must
have been one of his prized possessions, and I just started to weep.

 After seeing Scarlett Johansson  in “The Horse Whisperer,” Timmermann cast her in “An American Rhapsody” in
1992.

There was a rawness
about Scarlett that I loved, but I didn’t think it would come out in an
audition so I told the director, “Just talk, fall in love, and give her the
part.” She did.

For Scarlett’s hottest Hollywood hairstyles, click here.

She also tried cast the new 2010 Oscar co-host Alec Baldwin in “The Last of the
Mohicans “ but he turned it down.  The role went to Daniel Day Lewis. 

Watch Alec Baldwin host the Elle Women in Hollywood Awards!

She recalls: “When I first met him he was so hard to reach, quite
standoffish. He was initially intimidating. And incredibly handsome. He was
very sure of himself. He knew that he had a lot to offer.”

She did cast him in “Glengarry Glen Ross.”  “In this incredible
ensemble, he was a real standout. He was only on the screen for seven minutes
and he’s the one people remember from the film.”

For more amazing Bonnie casting memories, click here

There are 30 more revealing Polaroids in the new issue of Elle on stands.

More Dish:

Alec Baldwin’s Oscar host audition?

George Clooney’s favorite new Italian dish

“Iron Man 2″ is no sweat for Scarlett Johansson 

Photo: Bonnie Timmerman at left. Above, Scarlett Johansson. Below, Alec Baldwin. Credit: Elle

Related posts:

1. VIDEO: Alec Baldwin’s celeb scandal tips for Julie Andrews: Pull a Kanye!
2. VIDEO: ’30 Rock’ Alec Baldwin gets his relationship advice from Elle magazine
3. Mickey Rourke looking for English wife
4. Watch Scarlett Johansson, Pete Yorn’s new music video ‘Relator’
5. Scarlett Johansson Is Red Hot