Netflix’s new hit series GLOW premiered on Friday, with Alison Brie in the starring role. But turns out, she almost didn’t get the gig.
Brie stars as Ruth, an out-of-work actress who joins a new women’s wrestling league. Set in the 80s, the show is actually based on the real-life GLOW (Gorgeous Ladies Of Wrestling) that had a short run back in the day.
When Brie originally read the script, she knew she wanted the role immediately. She said,
“I can’t explain it but there are roles that I click in with, and I want them immediately. There have certainly been things I’ve auditioned for where I read it and I kinda go like, I don’t know if I’m even right for this. But it would be fun to do this job if I got it. And there are other things I read and just go, I know this woman, and I am her. I feel like Trudy was one of those. And I felt that about this and thought, I will do anything. Let’s go after this.”
And that’s pretty much what she did. The casting director was looking for a fresh face and someone who wasn’t conventionally attractive. Considering her most famous role was as the cutesy freshman in Community, Alison didn’t exactly fit the description.
“I was brought in many times and I wore no makeup, and wore workout clothes, and tied my hair back, and really didn’t hold back my desire to be a part of the show. I think sometimes you go into auditions and you’re playing it very cool. If you seem like you don’t care at all then it’ll be more likely that you’ll get the part. I was not that way at all. Every time I went up I was just like, ‘Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. I love this group very much.’
I think they started to see Ruth’s desperation in me. And the audition process really did go on long enough that I think I was transforming into the character before their eyes and before my own eyes. But it was a really satisfying feeling, I will say, to prove yourself and then get a job. It’s the most satisfying thing.”
And Alison is amazing in the role. For the show, Brie and the cast trained for months to do their own stunts and wrestling moves.
GLOW is now streaming on Netflix.
