Several actors auditioned for Katniss Everdeen, but the odds weren't in their favor. In early 2011, when 'The Hunger Games' was looking for its "Girl on Fire," more than 30 starlets volunteered as tribute. Meet some of the well-known actresses who battled Jennifer Lawrence for the coveted part.

Shailene Woodley

The future 'Divergent' star was a 19-year-old unknown in early 2011, though fame would arrive with that year's 'The Descendants.' Woodley admitted that her Katniss reading "wasn't great" and that Jennifer Lawrence was "perfect for the role."

Chloë Grace Moretz

2010's 'Kick-Ass' proved that Moretz could, well, kick ass, so she was up for the physical challenges in 'The Hunger Games.' She was barely 14, however, and it was decided to go with a more mature-looking Katniss. (Lawrence was 20.)

Hailee Steinfeld

Steinfeld had also just turned 14 when 'The Hunger Games' was casting. Her recent Oscar-nominated performance in 'True Grit' made her a top choice, but she would have to wait until 2013's 'Ender's Game' to hone her sci-fi chops.

Abigail Breslin

Another 14-year-old contender. Reportedly, 'The Hunger Games' producers thought very seriously about casting a young and girlish Katniss, which is why the 'Zombieland' star was considered along with Moretz and Steinfeld.

Saoirse Ronan

The Irish actress, who had made a name for herself with 2007's 'Atonement' (which got her an Oscar nod) and 2009's 'The Lovely Bones,' actually was 16 -- Katniss Everdeen's age in 'The Hunger Games' -- at the time of casting.

Emma Roberts

This scion of the Roberts acting clan (her father is Eric, her aunt is Julia) had more than a dozen movies under her belt by 2011, but didn't become a real name until two years later, with 'We're the Millers' and 'American Horror Story.'

Emily Browning

If the 'Hunger Games' filmmakers wanted to skew older, then the 22-year-old Australian, whose action flick 'Sucker Punch' was just about to be released, would have surely fit the bill.

Kaya Scodelario

Fans of the UK TV series 'Skins' lobbied hard for this Brit, just shy of her 19th birthday. She even won a popular magazine's readers' poll for who should play Katniss. Perhaps 'The Maze Runner' will be her breakout role.

Lyndsy Fonseca

At 24, with roles on the CW's 'Nikita' and CBS' 'How I Met Your Mother,' Fonesca was a bit old for Katniss. Nevertheless, like the other actresses in this gallery, she made Lionsgate's publicly-released shortlist, and was even rumored to be a favorite.

Isabelle Fuhrman

Ironically, one girl not on Lionsgate's shortlist actually made it into 'The Hunger Games.' Fuhrman, so creepy in 'Orphan' (2009), stated that she initially read for Katniss but was considered too young. She played the ruthless Clove instead.