Greta Gerwig has had the kind of career most people in Hollywood can only dream of. She went from starring in indie favorites, such as ‘Frances Ha‘ and ‘20th Century Women,’ to directing Oscar-nominated films like ‘Lady Bird‘ and the billion-dollar phenomenon ‘Barbie.’
But even with all that success, there’s one role she still wishes had worked out. Long before she became one of the industry’s most celebrated filmmakers, Gerwig kept auditioning for a hit TV series she genuinely loved. No matter how many times she tried, though, the opportunity never came her way. Here’s the full scoop.
Greta Gerwig Could Never Star In Legal Drama ‘Law & Order’
Gerwig appeared on many television shows, including ‘China, IL,’ ‘Portlandia,’ and the pilot episode for the spin-off of ‘How I Met Your Mother.’ But the actress claims that there is one franchise that has eluded her all those years.
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Appearing in The Huffington Post, Gerwig reveals that she could never secure a part in Wolf Entertainment’s procedural and legal series ‘Law & Order’ despite auditioning several times. “I’m like the only actor in New York who’s never ever been on any Law & Order,” she said.
“I’ve auditioned for so many. The sad thing is, I love Law & Order. I’m really obsessed with it. And they always said to me, ‘You seem like you’re making fun of the material.’” For actors from New York’s indie film circuit, landing even a minor guest appearance on ‘Law & Order’ is equivalent to a rite of passage.
Despite Gerwig obviously having no intention of making fun of the franchise, the misunderstanding denied her the chance to appear on one of the most popular TV shows in the industry. Originally premiered in September 1990, the NBC show follows a two-part approach for its cases.
The first part involves investigating the crime and apprehending the suspect, while the second half is dedicated to prosecuting the defendant. The selected cases often draw from real-life headline-grabbing incidents.
While the cases could be genuine, the motivations and culprits may be different from the facts. The original 25-season show has spawned a whole ‘Law & Order’ universe with three solid spin-offs. The franchise is gearing up for its 26th season, slated to air on October 8, 2026.
Meanwhile, looking back at Gerwig’s career, it’s hard to believe that she had any regrets about what happened back then. After all, it didn’t stop her from becoming a major Hollywood celebrity who can write, act, and direct. While her luck didn’t work out, many actors became big names
Gerwig’s Stellar Career Post Mumblecore Movement
It’s astonishing that Gerwig never starred in ‘Law & Order’ since the franchise has seen dozens of future celebrities. Appearing on the airwaves since 1990, the show, along with its spin-offs, gained incredible popularity due to its many young aspiring actors.
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Stars such as Timothée Chalamet, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Patti Smith are some of the countless performers who have appeared in the franchise universe. As for Gerwig, her career took a very different direction.
First, she became one of the most prominent representatives of the mumblecore movement, an early 2000s American independent film movement. Then, she made her way into the ranks of acclaimed filmmakers with movies that moved audiences.
Her first movie was ‘Lady Bird,’ followed by ‘Little Women’ and then ‘Barbie.’ All three of her movies received nods for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Meanwhile, the Margot Robbie-starring movie became the first billion-dollar movie helmed by a woman.
Despite so much success, Gerwig’s affection towards ‘Law & Order’ has not completely died. With the franchise expanding each year with new series, there is always a chance Gerwig finally gets the guest appearance she once chased through auditions years ago.
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