‘I Sweat When I Think About That’: The Story Behind Modern Family’s Julie Bowen Auditioning For Claire And Why She Nearly Missed Out On The Role
By Maggie Sheck,
7 hours ago
Over the course of network TV history, there have been shows that have changed the way we look at sitcoms, and, when talking about great ensemble comedies, Modern Family is easily at the top of the list. It’s among the best sitcoms of all time in great part because of its storytelling and impeccable cast. Now, Julie Bowen -- who famously played Claire Dunphy excellently -- is opening up about auditioning to join the cast, and believe it or not, she nearly missed out on the role.
The Happy Gilmore star joined Andy Richter on his podcast, The Three Questions , to talk about Modern Family, the Sandler sequel and her new show Hysteria ! which will air on Peacock as a part of the 2024 TV schedule , amongst other things. Later in the episode, both Richter and Bowen were recounting their earlier days and the beginnings of the ABC megahit. The Totally Killer alum revealed she was pregnant at the time and auditioning for another show she had a better chance of landing. She said of the timeframe:
Like Bowen, other stars have had their doubts about their careers while being pregnant, but luckily for her, the show wanted her. She even recounted getting a call about the potential job from one of the creators of the show:
It did more than just work out, the sitcom was a massive hit!
The Dunphy’s and the rest of the family were on air for a whopping 11 seasons and for good reason–from the funny and relatable storylines, the characters’ relationships, and the cast’s chemistry, the series was a big hit from the jump. And while the show ended less than five years ago and although they all grew up and changed over the course of it, it was still hard to see them go.
I’m not sure the comedy would be the same without Bowen playing Claire, and the creators clearly felt the same. Let’s thank the TV gods we don’t have to think about what could have been too much, especially with the teasing of reunions in the air .
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