“You Have to Cast Her.” Matthew Perry Interceded for This Actress to Be Hired in Friends
The actress, who starred in Friends, confessed that she owes her career to Matthew Perry, who interceded on her behalf when she applied for a role in the sitcom.
In Friends, Paget Brewster, in the role of Kathy, Joey's girlfriend, who later became close to Chandler, appeared in six episodes. So her participation was not long, but her character is certainly one of those that do not escape from memory so easily. A sizable part of this is due to the actress herself, who Matthew Parry wanted to see in that role.
In an interview with The Talk, Paget Brewster recalled the role that made her stand out, and talked about what her casting was like. She confessed that she was convinced that the role would not go to her, as other, more famous actresses were trying to get it. Entering the casting room certain that she would not play Kathy in the TV series, Brewster was not stressed at all, which helped her to show her best side in front of the creators of Friends and Matthew Perry, who was present there.
I watched Friends, and so I got the audition and they called me back to have another audition. I saw four very beautiful and very famous actresses. And I thought I’m not gonna get this, so I wasn’t nervous. So the door opened, I went in the room and said “Clearly I’m your runty alternate so let’s just get this show on the road…”
Brewster managed to convince Perry with her confidence and sense of humor. As a result, the Friends star interceded for the actress to be the one cast in the role of Kathy. In an interview with HNGN, Paget Brewster was even tempted to say that she owes her career to Perry.
I actually owe Matthew Perry my career. He was in the casting room when I got that and I guess he went to bat for me and said, “She’s the funniest one; you have to cast her.”
Perry's intercession helped Brewster, who we could see in the fourth season of Friends.
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