When David Nicholl’s best-selling One Day got the big-screen treatment back in 2011, producers decided to add a little star power in the form of A-lister Anne Hathaway.
But, it was the miscasting of the Hollywood actress as the down-to-earth, Yorkshire-born Emma Morley that saw the film become a critical flop, with many deriding her attempt at a northern accent.
Ahead of the new Netflix series, bosses spent months scouring the country and putting hundreds of hopefuls through their paces to find the perfect cast for their new 14-part television adaptation.
They eventually settled on Ambika Mod to play the role of Emma – only to be left disappointed when she turned the part down, the Mail can reveal.
Hertfordshire-born Ambika, 29, who made her name in the BBC drama This Is Going to Hurt playing student doctor Shruti Acharya, initially decided she didn’t want the job.
Netflix One Day star Ambika Mod , 29, has revealed she originally refused the role as Emma after the character was previously played by Anne Hathaway in the film original back in 2011 (pictured Ambika and co-star Leo Woodall)
Anne Hathaway previously played Emma Morley alongside Jim Sturgess as Dexter Mayhew, however the film become a critical flop, with many deriding her attempt at a northern accent
The star explained she found it was a ‘massive, massive undertaking’ given Emma was previously played by a white actress.
She said: ‘It was definitely originally written as white and previously played by a white actress. I’m really excited to bring something new to the role, I hope that young women who don’t see themselves on screen that often see that it’s possible.
Ambika admitted she wouldn’t have landed the role ten years ago due to her skin colour, saying: ‘I’m very different to Anne Hathaway, so I was never worried about that. Just the fact that I’m not white and I’m getting to play Emma.
‘I don’t think that would have happened ten years ago. That in itself is a way to modernise the story.’
Starring alongside Leo Woodall as Dexter, the well-known story is set over 20 years and follows the complex, ‘will-they-won’t-they’ relationship between the pair, taking place on St Swithin’s Day every year.
Ambika worked closely with lead scriptwriter Nicole Taylor to find the best version of Emma that would work on the small screen.
The actress ‘gives a damn good script note,’ according to Nicole.
‘I’m a writer and I can’t turn that side of my brain off ever. I got to know her so well,’ explained Ambika.
Ambika explained she found it was a ‘massive, massive undertaking’ given Emma was previously played by a white actress.
Film insiders predict Ambika and Leo will become global stars off of the back of the much-anticipated series
‘I just really, really love Emma and always wanted to do right by her.’
Ambika, the daughter of Indian immigrants, was then paired with Leo, who was still unknown at the time having not yet appeared on the Sky Atlantic series, The White Lotus.
He was only the second actor that she read the script with and producers quickly noticed their ‘perfect chemistry.’
And now film insiders predict that they will become global stars off of the back of the much-anticipated series.
Ambika admitted that the pair immediately had ‘a really natural rhythm… a really good vibe.’
Despite playing an Essex lad in the critically-acclaimed HBO show, West London-born Leo, 27, said he is actually ‘very middle-class’ and is a descendent of silent film star Maxine Elliott.
‘I come from privilege, and privilege definitely plays a part in Dexter’s life,’ he said of the parallels between him and his character.
He said the chemistry with Ambika was there straight away as they just ‘clicked and it worked.’
Ambika admitted she wouldn’t have landed the role ten years ago due to her skin colour, saying: ‘I’m very different to Anne Hathaway, so I was never worried about that. Just the fact that I’m not white and I’m getting to play Emma’
Ambika made her name in the BBC drama This Is Going to Hurt playing student doctor Shruti Acharya
Leo plays Dexter in the series, but was unknown at the time of casting as his role in the Sky Atlantic series The White Lotus (pictured) was yet to be broadcast
After learning they’d both bagged the roles, they went for a drink as they ‘knew that what we were about to take on was a big thing and we needed to lean on each other.’
The two then worked with intimacy coordinators for the love scenes as Leo explained: ‘When Ambika and I started doing those scenes, we’d already built up a trust and a friendship that made it more comfortable and a safer space’.
The author of the original book David Nicholls, 57 says he’s happy that the film has now found the right ‘format’ to fit the story, with Netflix’s big budget meaning they could film all over the world.
‘The perfect form for the book adaptation is the TV series, particularly since the advent of streaming,’ he said. ‘Now we have a form that fits the actual novel.
‘You can now alter the length of the episodes, that’s been brilliant because some of the days are more eventful than others. One episode a day and make it as long as it needs to be.’
He added: ‘The economics of streaming mean that you can afford to go to Paris and Rome and Greece, as the book does.’