Discover how Jessica Hecht nearly played Monica on ‘Friends’ before becoming Susan in this surprising casting revelation.
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Ever wondered how different ‘Friends’ could’ve been? Jessica Hecht—who fans know as Susan—nearly became Monica before Courteney Cox!
This casting revelation shows how close we came to a totally different Central Perk gang.
The Surprising Monica Audition
Jessica Hecht recently spilled the beans about her little-known audition for Monica Geller.
Thanks to her hometown connection with casting director Ellie Kanner (they grew up together in Connecticut!), Hecht got a shot at the role when her agent heard they were still looking.
“I went in, mostly excited to see Ellie,” Hecht shared. Little did she know they’d ask her to read for one of the main ‘Friends’ characters!
Why She Thinks She Lost the Role
Looking back, Hecht has a pretty straightforward theory about why she wasn’t chosen.
“I’m tall and just had a bigger size than the rest,” she explained honestly.
Now she sees how Courteney Cox was perfect casting, adding that her own energy would’ve matched “more of a Lisa [Kudrow].”
Finding Her ‘Friends’ Home as Susan
Though Monica wasn’t in the cards, Hecht made her mark as Susan Bunch—Ross’s ex-wife’s partner—appearing in 13 memorable episodes.
Her character brought much-needed representation to the show, though Hecht had some thoughts about Susan’s development.
“They just wanted a lesbian that didn’t look exactly like lesbians had previously,” she noted with refreshing candor.
“Use your imagination! They’re wonderful. They come in all sizes.”
Dodging the ‘Friends’ Spotlight
Surprisingly, Hecht feels relieved she didn’t become one of the core ‘Friends’ characters.
“The responsibility of that is more than most people could manage,” she admitted.
She watches with amazement at the show’s cultural impact: “That show affecting so many people’s lives… I watch it with awe.”
Life After Central Perk
After ‘Friends’, Hecht built an impressive career working with directors like Clint Eastwood and appearing in shows like ‘Breaking Bad’.
Her theater work has earned her three Tony nominations, including one this year for ‘Eureka Day’.
For 30 years, she’s been married to director Adam Bernstein, whose varied work includes everything from TV shows to Sir Mix-a-Lot’s iconic “Baby Got Back” music video.
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