TMC
06-27-2022, 08:42 PM
https://www.nickiswift.com/908942/the-friends-role-that-leah-remini-auditioned-for/
Leah Remini was up against Courteney Cox
Leah Remini auditioned for Monica Geller (https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/leah-remini-had-a-guest-role-on-friends-but-she-almost-played-a-much-bigger-part.html/), the neurotic yet caring friend, chef extraordinaire, and younger sister to Ross. After making it to the final round of auditions, she felt like the role was hers. According to Remini, the casting decision came down to her and another actor. But once Courteney Cox showed up at the studio, Remini knew it was game over. Cox had been up for Rachel Green and was now being considered for Monica. Speaking about Cox, casting director Ellie Kanner said, "We were just blown away. "We were like, 'Oh s**t! I guess she's got to be Monica," per E! News (https://www.eonline.com/news/1272902/you-wont-believe-all-the-stars-that-were-almost-cast-on-friends).
In her 2015 memoir "Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology," Remini wrote that she "cried for days" after getting rejected from the role, per People (https://people.com/books/leah-remini-praises-jennifer-aniston-recalls-losing-role-on-friends/). Given that the show was a smash hit, disappointment is an understandable reaction. But it was also the circumstances that made Remini feel let down. She told MediaVillage (https://www.mediavillage.com/article/leah-remini-forever-a-friend-of-friends/) in 2016, "As an actress you go on each audition thinking 'this could change my life. I could get my car out of repo, or get a nice apartment that's not backed up in a bar in Hollywood, so everything rides on those moments." In other words, there was a lot riding on the potential role.
Leah Remini was up against Courteney Cox
Leah Remini auditioned for Monica Geller (https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/leah-remini-had-a-guest-role-on-friends-but-she-almost-played-a-much-bigger-part.html/), the neurotic yet caring friend, chef extraordinaire, and younger sister to Ross. After making it to the final round of auditions, she felt like the role was hers. According to Remini, the casting decision came down to her and another actor. But once Courteney Cox showed up at the studio, Remini knew it was game over. Cox had been up for Rachel Green and was now being considered for Monica. Speaking about Cox, casting director Ellie Kanner said, "We were just blown away. "We were like, 'Oh s**t! I guess she's got to be Monica," per E! News (https://www.eonline.com/news/1272902/you-wont-believe-all-the-stars-that-were-almost-cast-on-friends).
In her 2015 memoir "Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology," Remini wrote that she "cried for days" after getting rejected from the role, per People (https://people.com/books/leah-remini-praises-jennifer-aniston-recalls-losing-role-on-friends/). Given that the show was a smash hit, disappointment is an understandable reaction. But it was also the circumstances that made Remini feel let down. She told MediaVillage (https://www.mediavillage.com/article/leah-remini-forever-a-friend-of-friends/) in 2016, "As an actress you go on each audition thinking 'this could change my life. I could get my car out of repo, or get a nice apartment that's not backed up in a bar in Hollywood, so everything rides on those moments." In other words, there was a lot riding on the potential role.