Fate plays in mysterious ways and Hollywood could not stand as more of a living example of the same. The hustle-bustle of the entertainment industry sometimes makes way for stories of struggle and early tries at breakthroughs that some of today’s most successful stars went through at one point or another. During the early 2000s, a wave of aspiring actresses auditioned for the now-iconic 2004 teenage flick Mean Girls, and among all others, at that point, the choice had come down to Amanda Seyfried and Blake Lively.

One of the two budding actresses went on to star in the movie even as the other marked their legacy equally iconically. However, back then, they did not have a clue.

Based on Rosalind Wiseman's 2002 self-help book Queen Bees and Wannabes, Mean Girls went on to become a cultural phenomenon soon after its release. However, contending for the three lead actress roles of Cady Heron, Regina George, and Karen Smith had the best young actresses of that time pitted against one another. Talking to E! News during the 2023 SAG Awards, Amanda Seyfried opened up that she envisioned Blake Lively as “the perfect Karen” during auditions.

Recalling the moment, the now 38-year-old actress stated “I didn't know but I just remember thinking she was so gorgeous”. Amanda Seyfried evoked her memories of the Mean Girls audition room that had her play for Regina and Blake Lively for Karen. Furthermore, that moment also marked the first time she met Lacey Chabert and Lindsay Lohan. In a twist of fate, the casting call had Lively losing out on a role and even Seyfried getting in as Karen instead of Regina, which went to Rachel McAdams.

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Interestingly, had a switch happened at that moment, the current outlook of Hollywood could have turned around quite differently, as Blake Lively found her calling soon after.

Missing out on Mean Girls had Blake Lively land the role of Bridget Vreeland in 2005’s The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Featuring the likes of America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, and Amber Tamblyn, the movie went on to carve a place for itself in popular culture. Moreover, it continues to have an impact on the audience and evokes invitations such as that from Ryan Reynolds, who recently became an unofficial part of it.

The widespread recognition gained from the movie helped Blake Lively shine in her role as Serena van der Woodsen in the Gossip Girl series, which ran from 2007 to 2012. Ever since, she has catapulted her Hollywood career with her entrepreneurial and creative skills at work, pulling her brands such as Betty Buzz up and above into the limelight.

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What are your reactions to Amanda Seyfried recalling her Mean Girls audition experience alongside Blake Lively? Let us know in the comments below.