Kate Winslet's Titanic Screen Test Opposite Not Leo

Fifteen years after Titanic rode triumphantly through theaters, pulling record-shattering box office grosses and awe-striking acclaim—including 11 Oscar wins—in its wake, it's almost impossible to imagine anyone but Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio playing Rose and Jack, the star-crossed lovers at the epic romance's center. But before she promised to never to let go, Winslet jockeyed hard to win the role of Rose.

Following Titanic's 3D re-release, a flashy new Blu-ray stuffed with special features is being released, and among the behind-the-scenes vids is one where James Cameron reveals not only how Winslet fought for the part, but also her screen test. It's a curious sight: Winslet with blonde locks in a carefully assembled set and costume performing with another auditioning actor. DiCaprio was not yet in place for Jack, and so below—courtesy of Yahoo—you can see Winslet playing opposite Jeremy Sisto, who at the time was hot off Clueless.

It's fascinating to see the differences between this and the final product. For one, Winslet's accent is less posh here, and far more American. It's also set inside, here. In the finished film, Jack shows Rose his artwork when they're out on the deck. Besides that this seems to be an earlier version of the script with dialogue that didn't make it through the final cut. And lastly, it's interesting to see how Sisto approached Jack. Like DiCaprio he has a boyish charm, but his deep voice makes him seem older, more mature, which perhaps detracted from the tone of young love Cameron had in mind.

While Sisto didn't get this part, he went on to win roles the acclaimed HBO series Six Feet Under and Law & Order, and he currently stars in the ABC sitcom Suburgatory. Winslet will next be seen in Jason Reitman's Labor Day, which should hit in 2013.