Kathie Lee Gifford said an Agent Told her She "Wasn't Pretty Enough" for "Charlie's Angels"
by Bruce Haring
June 6, 2024


Kathie Lee Gifford still remembers a casting agent’s insult from earlier in her career.

Speaking with People about her new book, I Want to Matter: Your Life Is Too Short and Too Precious to Waste, Gifford recalled being abruptly told she wasn’t pretty enough to star in ABC’s "Charlie’s Angels" television series.



The former "Today" host writes about the power of forgiveness and kindness in her new book. She gave one example where she received a brutal slam.

When she arrived at the casting office for an interview, she was given a quick heave-ho from an agent.




“She goes, ‘Let me tell you right now, you’re not right for Charlie’s Angels,'” Gifford said.

When she asked why, the agent spat, “Because we’re looking for a pretty girl. You know, like Jaclyn Smith: pretty, gorgeous, gorgeous.”

A stunned Gifford started to leave, but then responded. “I said, ‘When you’re casting a cartoon,’ and I threw up my leg. ‘When you’re casting a cartoon, let me know.’ I left, thanking God that I could laugh about it.”



Gifford now has some perspective on the incident.

“I started to see, first of all, what a bitch she was. What an unnecessary bitch she was. She didn’t say ‘Sorry, honey, have a nice life. You’re not what we’re looking for.’ She had to be cruel. She had to be the exact opposite of what my dad taught me to be. The fact that I remember her name to this day is because she was so cruel.”

https://deadline.com/2024/06/kathie-lee-gifford-not-pretty-enough-charlies-angels-tv-casting-1235961526/

Kathie Lee Gifford Recalls Being Rejected for "Charlie's Angels" because she "Wasn't Pretty Enough"
by Marina Watts
July 1, 2026


Kathie Lee Gifford is reflecting on being rejected from what became an iconic role.

The television personality opened up about auditioning for "Charlie's Angels", under the impression that she was going to replace Kate Jackson after she left the show in 1979 after season 3.

"My agent called me and said, 'You've got to get down to Aaron Spelling Productions. They want to see you for Charlie's Angels,'" she recalled to PEOPLE. "I had the flu, but he said, 'You've got to, Kathie.'"




The casting agent didn't give Gifford promising energy when she arrived at the audition. "[She] looks me up and down, and she goes, 'You're not right for Charlie's Angels,'" Gifford continued.

She asked the casting agent why she wouldn't be a fit, and was told she wasn't pretty enough. "WWe're looking for a pretty girl. And, well, you're not Farrah [Fawcett]. You're not Jaclyn Smith gorgeous. That's what we're looking for,'" Gifford claimed the agent said.

"I started to laugh inside because it got meaner and meaner. I opened the door to leave, and I went, 'When you're casting a cartoon, let me know!' And I thought, 'I'm going to be just fine in this business.'"




Added Gifford, "The fact that I remember her name to this day is because she was so cruel."

"You just can't let other people define you. I never was the prettiest at a casting call. I never had the best body. I never was the best singer or actress, but I had the hardest work ethic of everybody, and I made people laugh, even on auditions. And it served me very, very well."

https://ew.com/kathie-lee-gifford-rejected-for-charlies-angels-not-pretty-enough-12010660