Elizabeth Olsen reveals that she had an unfortunate audition for Game of Thrones. Olsen is most known for her role as Wanda Maximoff, aka Scarlet Witch, in the MCU. The most prominent MCU appearance for Olsen is, of course, WandaVision, the first MCU series that premiered on Disney+.
Olsen first entered the MCU as Wanda Maximoff in 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron after an uncredited cameo in the post-credits scene of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. She then reprised her role in several more MCU films before starring in WandaVision, alongside Paul Bettany, which became an instant hit. WandaVision, which impressed audiences by accurately paying homage to past eras of television tropes, styles, and sitcoms, follows Wanda Maximoff and Vision trying to live a normal suburban life after the events of Avengers: Endgame. WandaVision premiered in January 2021 after production was delayed due to the pandemic. The series kicked off Phase 4 of the MCU, the first phase after the end of the Infinity Saga, and also serves as a set-up for the upcoming Doctor Strange sequel, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which is set to premiere March 25, 2022, and will also feature Olsen as Maximoff.
In an interview with THR, Olsen reveals that she auditioned for the role of Daenerys in Game of Thrones, to a tragic end. Olsen auditioned for the mega-hit HBO series after starring in the critically acclaimed indie film Martha Marcy May Marlene. Olsen recalls auditioning with the scene of Khaleesi when she emerges out of the fire signifying the literal birth of her dragons and the figurative birth of the Mother of Dragons, an audition Olsen deemed “awful.” Of course, the role famously went to British actress Emilia Clarke, who portrayed one of modern television’s most well-known (and divisive) characters for nearly a decade. Although, it can be said that everything happens for a reason, as Olsen was able to become the Scarlet Witch and star in WandaVision, which is receiving some strong awards buzz. Speaking about her Thrones audition, Olsen said:
Yes, I auditioned for Game of Thrones. I auditioned for, like, the assistant to the casting director in a small room in New York with just a camera on me and them reading the script. I was doing the Khaleesi speech when she comes out of the fire. It was awful. I didn’t get a callback.
Another reason missing out on the role of Daenerys might have been a good thing for Olsen is her troubles with mental health at the time, which she is very public about. In past interviews, Olsen has never shied away from admitting that around the time of her Game of Thrones audition, she began to experience debilitating panic attacks. Her candor regarding the importance of mental health awareness is a quality she shares with WandaVision, which largely deals with mental health, particularly grief. Though Olsen didn’t get the role in Game of Thrones, she did snag roles in many other projects such as the Facebook Watch series Sorry for Your Loss, the comedy film Ingrid Goes West, and the murder mystery film Wind River.
Plenty of popular actors and actresses have stories of auditions for hit roles that didn’t pan out the way they wanted, but many of those actors have expressed gratitude at the missed opportunity for allowing them to pursue the characters that became their signature. Even so, one must admit that seeing Olsen as Khaleesi would have been interesting. But it’s most likely safe to say that the roles of Daenerys and Scarlet Witch ended up in the right hands.
Source: THR