Christina Hendricks, the acclaimed actress best known for her iconic role as Joan Holloway in Mad Men, may have just landed the leading role in a new series, Small Town Big Story, directed by Chris O’Dowd. The series follows the story of Wendy Patterson, a hotshot TV producer in Los Angeles who is forced to confront her past while choosing the final filming location for her big budget show.
But even with such a high-profile role, Christina reveals that not every audition is a success. In an interview with HuffPost UK, the two-time SAG Award winner shared a hilarious and embarrassing audition experience for none other than the world’s highest-grossing movie – Avatar.
“It was Avatar. You know, with these auditions, it’s very top secret materials – so you have to come to the studio and only have the material there. They told me, we’re gonna give you, like, four hours, and we’re gonna have a camera operator and a director there,” Christina explained.
So far, so normal. But things took a surprising turn when Christina was asked to crawl around on her hands and knees, howling like a dog and sniffing. And to top it all off, she later found out that the role had already been given to Kate Winslet.
“I tell you, I just got in my car afterwards, and I was like, well, that was humbling,” Christina laughed. The role in question was for that of the water-dwelling Na’vi warrior Ronal, ultimately played by Kate Winslet in the 2022 sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water.
But Christina is not alone in her audition horror stories. Her co-star in Small Town Big Story, Chris O’Dowd, also shared a cringe-worthy experience for the film The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, starring Lily James. “I went into the audition with Lily James, and the director was there and all these people. I started doing the scene, and I just forgot all my lines. I just couldn’t remember a single word,” Chris recalled.
Despite these experiences, Christina and Chris’ talents and hard work have paid off, as they now star in the warm, witty, and dramatic new series, Small Town Big Story. Set in a village full of secrets on the border of Ireland and another world, the show follows the story of Wendy Patterson, who returns after 20 years to choose the final filming location for her TV show and confront a decades-old secret she shares with local doctor Séamus Proctor.
The series promises to be a hit, and fans can catch it on Thursday 27 February on Sky and streaming service NOW in the UK and Ireland.
But Christina’s embarrassing audition for Avatar is just one of many stories of rejection and failure in Hollywood. However, it’s a reminder that even the most successful and talented actors have their share of setbacks and challenges. It’s a testament to their resilience and determination that they continue to push forward and achieve their dreams.
And sometimes, these failures can even lead to unexpected opportunities. Kate Winslet may have secured the role in Avatar, but Christina’s audition caught the attention of millions, and her talent and charisma have continued to shine on screen.
So as we eagerly await the premiere of Small Town Big Story, let Christina and Chris’ audition stories serve as a reminder not to let rejection or failure discourage us from pursuing our dreams. With hard work, perseverance, and a positive attitude, we can overcome any obstacle and achieve success in our own small town big stories.
