Lizzy Caplan Reveals She Fought Hard for Her Iconic Mean Girls Role
It has been revealed that Lizzy Caplan put up a considerable effort to secure the part of Janis Ian in the 2004 hit comedy Mean Girls.
"It was simply the most hilarious screenplay I'd ever encountered," she remarked about the movie while appearing on Penn Badgley's "Podcrushed" podcast on Thursday, November 20. "I desperately wanted to be involved. I struggled immensely, and eventually, it paid off. Everyone, I believe, had to try out for one of the two leading characters: Cady, played by Lindsay Lohan, or the role taken by Rachel McAdams."
She further explained, "I auditioned, and they were hesitant to cast me. Someone recently brought this to my attention: the studio originally favored Kelly Osbourne for the role."
She enlisted the expertise of a hairstylist, as she clarified, who helped her conceptualize the character's appearance for the film.
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"We headed to Hollywood Boulevard, donned dark wigs, and did anything to send them screenshots of me portraying a gothic teenager," Caplan disclosed. "I can't recall the duration of the process, but I distinctly remember receiving the phone call and my location when I learned I had secured the role. How often in your professional life does something truly make you want to rejoice with unadulterated excitement?"
The subsequent events, naturally, became part of cinematic lore. Caplan proceeded to feature prominently in the successful film, conceptualized by Saturday Night Live veteran Tina Fey, alongside Lohan, McAdams, and Amanda Seyfried. The movie earned over $24 million during its opening weekend, eventually accumulating an estimated $130 million globally.
Caplan maintained her television success after the film's debut, securing parts in True Blood, The Class, Party Down, and New Girl. She additionally portrayed Virginia Johnson in Masters of Sex from 2013 to 2016 and held a starring position in the second season of Castle Rock.
Even with her consistent achievements in both cinema and television, the actress has not entirely dismissed the possibility of appearing in a Mean Girls follow-up.
"I am completely supportive of this comeback by Lindsay Lohan," she informed Grazia USA in 2022, subsequent to Lohan, then 39, voicing her desire for a second movie. "I'm genuinely thrilled. She demonstrated such remarkable talent as a child and young adult, so I'm pleased to witness her return."
Although she was somewhat uncertain about the nature of a possible sequel or reboot, Caplan mentioned that if Fey, 55, devised a concept, she would participate.
"Naturally, I would wish to be involved; it would be foolish for me not to," she stated. "However, to me, Mean Girls appears to have had a thoroughly satisfying beginning, middle, and conclusion. I'm unsure what more narrative could be explored."
Lohan was unrestrained in articulating her enthusiasm for a possible continuation of the beloved movie.
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"It would be my ultimate desire to revisit and shoot a Mean Girls sequel," Lohan declared during an April 2020 broadcast on SiriusXM's Andy Cohen Live. "I believe there's certainly some impetus building for it."
Later that month, she commented on Lights Out With David Spade: "I think I held onto [Mean Girls] for an extended period. My desire was to return for a Mean Girls 2 featuring the original cast, to collaborate with Tina and the entire team once more, and [director] Mark Waters. That was genuinely what I wished for; I was eager for that opportunity. However, the decision ultimately rests with them."
