Christine Taylor secured her dream role as Marcia Brady in The Brady Bunch Movie. Landing the part came with an unexpected challenge. During the Office Ladies podcast, Taylor shared her experience. She was asked to lose 10 pounds, a demand she found embarrassing but felt was typical in Hollywood at that time.
Taylor had been a fan of Marcia Brady for years. Her obsession led her to participate in a live show titled The Real Live Brady Bunch. Her familiarity with the character was evident: “I’ve seen every single episode… backward and forward,” she remarked.
She recalled receiving a call from Sherwood Schwartz, creator of The Brady Bunch. The call was unexpected but thrilling. “It was a pinch-me moment,” Taylor confessed, regretting not keeping the answering machine tape with Schwartz’s message.
Taylor was confident about her suitability for the role. Her strong belief in her abilities carried her through the casting process, which she described as straightforward. “I met with them, and that was pretty much it,” she shared. Taylor didn’t audition solo again but instead read with other actors set to play her siblings.
She noted the industry’s expectations during the 90s, acknowledging she wasn’t overweight at the time. However, losing weight seemed a standard requirement. “Of course, I was embarrassed by the request,” she admitted, reflecting that such demands are less common now.
Taylor also mentioned her weight fluctuated during filming due to reshoots. “I start to put the 10 pounds back on,” she joked. Despite these pressures, she enjoyed filming and rewarded herself with frozen yogurt after scenes wrapped. “Nonfat frozen yogurt was the big craze at the time,” she recalled fondly.