Angelina Jolie's role in Mr & Mrs Smith almost went to Gwen Stefani

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in Mr & Mrs Smith, the film which sparked their romance.

Gwen Stefani almost landed Angelina Jolie's part in Mr & Mrs Smith.

The Make Me Like You hitmaker has revealed she came close to portraying the titular female role alongside Brad Pitt, who is now married to Jolie, in the 2005 movie after trying out several times for the part.

She said: "I feel like I almost got it. I went to a bunch [of auditions]."

Despite admitting she was keen to land the role, the 46-year-old singer, who is also the lead singer of No Doubt, insists music was her top priority at the time.

The blonde stunner - who has kids Kingston, 10, Zuma, seven, and Apollo, two, with her ex-husband Gavin Rossdale - explained: "[It was] very competitive and I wanted to do it, but I wanted to do music more."

But had Stefani - who is dating fellow singer Blake Shelton after recently divorcing Gavin, who she was married to for 14 years - taken on the role it wouldn't have been the first time she had met Brad.

Speaking on SiriusXM's The Howard Stern Show, she added: "We knew Brad already."

As well as Jolie and Pitt - who have kids Maddox, 14, Pax, 12, Shiloh, 10, Zahara, 11, and seven-year-old twins Vivienne and Knox together - the motion picture had a star-studded cast that included Vince Vaughn, Adam Brody and Kerry Washington.

Mr & Mrs Smith wouldn't have been Jolie's first big movie though as she also starred in 2004 film The Aviator alongside Leonardo DiCaprio.

What's more, in 2009, she appeared in an episode of Gossip Girl and she has played herself in several movies and TV shows, including Zoolander and Dawson's Creek.

- Bang! Showbiz