Henry Cavill’s rise to Hollywood stardom wasn’t as smooth as it may seem. Though now synonymous with his iconic portrayal of Superman, Cavill’s journey to landing major movie roles has had its fair share of rejections. Cavill has revealed that before donning the famous cape, he faced significant disappointments—missing out on some of Hollywood’s most coveted roles.

One of Cavill’s biggest near-misses was the role of James Bond in Casino Royale, which eventually went to Daniel Craig. The opportunity to play the world’s most famous spy was within Cavill’s grasp, but it wasn’t meant to be. Still, Cavill is the epitome of class, expressing no bitterness over the loss. “Daniel Craig absolutely nailed that role and was the best man for the job,” Cavill shared. “I don’t care if I don’t get the job, as long as the best guy for the job gets it.”

Around the same time, Cavill also auditioned for the role of Edward Cullen in the Twilight saga and Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire—both of which went to Robert Pattinson. Despite the series of rejections, Cavill remained determined and continued to pursue his passion for acting without holding any hard feelings toward his fellow actors.

But then, destiny came calling—literally. In a twist of fate, Cavill finally struck gold when he was cast as Superman in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel. However, the actor almost missed this life-changing opportunity. As Cavill recalls, he was immersed in a gaming session of World of Warcraft when his phone rang. Distracted by the game, he nearly ignored the call of a lifetime.

“I looked down at the last minute and saw it was Zack Snyder, and I dove for the phone,” Cavill laughed. “I was like, ‘Forget you guys, I’m going for Zack!’”

That call marked a turning point in Cavill’s career, as he was officially offered the role of Superman, a character that would catapult him to international fame. Cavill’s portrayal of the iconic superhero has been widely celebrated, solidifying his place in Hollywood’s A-list.

While Cavill’s path may have been filled with rejections and near-misses, his perseverance and talent have ultimately paid off in spades. As he continues to evolve in his career, the actor remains a testament to the idea that sometimes, the roles you don’t land can lead you to the role of a lifetime.