Released in 2004, Mean Girls is considered one of the best movies of the 2000s and continues to be a popular part of our culture even today. The film helped launch or boost the careers of many of its actors. However, not everyone had an easy time getting cast. Lizzy Caplan, who played Janis Ian, recently shared that she faced pushback from studio executives who preferred a reality TV personality for the part.
During an appearance on Penn Badgley’s podcast, Podcrushed, actress Lizzy Caplan shared her memorable experience with the movie Mean Girls. She revealed she immediately loved the project and was very determined to get the part. However, her journey to being cast seems much more involved than how Daniel Franzese, who played Glen Coco, landed his role.
I thought the script was hilarious – honestly, the funniest I’d ever seen. I really wanted the part, and after a lot of effort, I finally got it!
It’s completely understandable why the actress, known from Masters of Sex, was so eager to take the role just based on the script. It was a significant opportunity for her, being one of her first big parts in her twenties after Smallville. She also spoke very fondly of making the movie, describing the experience as similar to being back in college. I can only imagine how amazing it would have been to witness the production of what’s now considered a classic high school film.
Let me tell you, before Lizzy Caplan became Janis Ian, getting the part wasn’t a sure thing. She shared on a podcast that the studio really wanted to go with another actress – someone who, honestly, made sense on paper at the time. And get this – the actress they were leaning towards was a pretty big MTV star back in the early 2000s. It’s wild to think how different things could have been!
I’ll never forget how tough it was going into that audition. They really weren’t convinced I was right for the role, someone actually brought it up the other day! Apparently, the studio had their heart set on Kelly Osbourne. Honestly, I doubt I ever knew who was rooting for me behind the scenes – I probably wasn’t meant to! It was all a bit of a mystery, and I just focused on trying to prove myself.
It’s understandable why Kelly Osbourne was considered for the role. The Osbournes was a massive hit on MTV, making her a well-known personality, and she might have been able to capture Janis’s sarcastic humor well. Adding a popular celebrity like her to a movie written by Tina Fey could also have potentially brought in a larger audience.
Lacey Chabert, known for her role in Mean Girls, recently shared how difficult it was to keep a straight face while filming a particularly important scene. Anyone in her position probably would have struggled too!
It’s hard to picture Mean Girls without Lizzy Caplan – she was absolutely perfect as Janis, making the character both realistic and believably critical. However, it’s fun to wonder how Aubrey Osbourne might have approached the role. Would she have given Janis a British accent, or played up the cynicism even more? There are a lot of possibilities to think about!
Despite facing opposition from those supporting Kelly Osbourne, Lizzy Caplan stood her ground. Surprisingly, her team helped her secure the role, and wigs actually played a part in helping the Freaks and Geeks star win the part.
Someone flew in a hairstylist from Canada to Los Angeles, and we went to Hollywood Boulevard where we put on dark wigs – basically, we did whatever it took to get pictures of me looking like a typical goth. I don’t recall exactly how long the whole process took, but I vividly remember the phone call and where I was when I found out I’d gotten the role. It really made me think about how often that happens in an acting career – that moment of pure excitement and celebration?
It’s wonderful to hear that Reneé Caplan still loves Mean Girls. I also really admire her dedication and that of her team – going the extra mile with those gothic wigs was a great touch! While we can’t know for sure if she wouldn’t have gotten the role without it, it certainly helped. Caplan also makes a great point: it’s rare in any job, not just acting, to have a moment of pure joy and celebration.
As a huge movie fan, I was excited to see Mean Girls – both the original and the new adaptation of the stage play – are available on Paramount+. They have a couple of subscription options: the Essential plan is really affordable at $7.99 a month, and if you hate ads, you can go for the Premium plan at $12.99 a month. If you’re planning on watching a lot, an annual subscription can save you some money too!
While I think Kelly Osbourne would have been a good Janis, everything ended up working out perfectly with Lizzy Caplan. She’s become so iconic with all the memorable lines from Mean Girls, and I wouldn’t change a thing. You can watch the movie now with a Paramount+ subscription, and be sure to check out Caplan’s upcoming film, Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, coming in 2025.
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2025-11-25 05:12