Lizzy Caplan reflects on the long road it took to land her breakout role as Janis Ian in mean girls.
In conversation with Penn Badgley on Podécrasséthe 43-year-old actress revealed how determined she was to be part of the film – and how close she came to losing the role.
Caplan explained that the audition process was “very, very long” and that she immediately connected with the script.
“It was quite simply the funniest script I’ve ever read,” she said. “I wanted to be in it so badly. I fought so hard and then it worked.”
Before being considered for Janis, Caplan said she, like everyone else, had to read for one of two lead roles.
“I think everyone had to audition for one of the two main [roles]: Cady, Lindsay Lohan’s role or Rachel McAdams’ role,” she shared, noting that casting then divided the actors into call-back groups.
Even then, she faces resistance. “I walked in and they resisted picking me,” Caplan recalled. “Someone reminded me recently: The studio wanted Kelly Osbourne to play this role.”
Determined to prove she could play Janis, Caplan went further. With the help of a Canadian hairstylist friend, she transformed herself to match the character’s gothic aesthetic.
“We went to Hollywood Boulevard and put on dark wigs and whatever and sent them screenshots of me looking like a goth kid,” she said.
His persistence finally paid off. “I don’t remember how long the process took, but I remember getting the phone call and where I was when I got the phone call that I got the role,” Caplan explained.
“How many times has this actually happened to you in your career: that you just want to celebrate and it’s just exciting?”
