It’s impossible to imagine the cult classic ‘Clueless’ without Paul Rudd as the annoyingly charming stepbrother turned love interest Josh. And there is no doubt that the role helped to turn him into one of the most beloved actors of his generation.
But according to Rudd, Josh wasn’t his first pick. In fact, he was most excited about a completely different role in the movie, which ultimately slipped away from him.
Paul Rudd Thought Another ‘Clueless’ Character Was “The Coolest”
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Paul Rudd reflected on his decades-long career in Hollywood. When the topic turned to one of his most iconic films, ‘Clueless’, Rudd revealed that Josh wasn’t actually the role he was hoping to land.
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Instead, his attention was immediately drawn to Christian, Cher Horowitz’s stylish love interest, who is later revealed to be gay.
“I remember reading it, like, ‘Wait a minute, this is a gay character, who’s also the coolest character in the movie?’” Rudd recalled. “I’ve never seen this before, and it’s the most interesting part.”
The actor was also intrigued by the role of Murray, Dionne’s outspoken boyfriend, before he realized the character had been written as a Black role. The part ultimately went to Donald Faison.
Director Amy Heckerling did allow Rudd to audition for both Christian and Josh. But the role of Christian eventually went to Justin Walker. And while Rudd didn’t land the part he originally wanted, his character ended up becoming one of the most memorable performances of his career.
Rudd Was Surprisingly Never Desperate To Be In ‘Clueless’
Considering how important ‘Clueless’ became to his career, Rudd wasn’t anxiously waiting by the phone after his audition. “After the audition was done, I was not on the phone with my agents, like, ‘Did I get it? Did I get it?’” he admitted.
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His laidback attitude continued even after ‘Clueless’ came out and became a cultural phenomenon. While the film turned Rudd into the new Hollywood heartthrob, he had already committed to a different path.
He was headed to New York to star in the stage production of ‘The Night of Ballyhoo’, and the decision shocked his representatives. “My agent was like, ‘What the f— are you doing?’” Rudd remembered. “But I was so excited. I was 25 or 26, and I was about to be on Broadway.”
His commitment to the stage made him unavailable for another Hollywood role right after ‘Clueless’. But as unconventional as the decision seemed at the time, it reflected what mattered to Rudd the most. Rather than chasing the Hollywood fame in Los Angeles, Rudd chose the regular-guy existence that New York afforded to him.
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