The Good Place star Jameela Jamil reveals why she pulled out of an opportunity to audition for Netflix's romantic thriller You. Although it was her first major acting role, Jamil made an instant impression when she debuted as Tahani Al-Jamil in the NBC sitcom The Good Place. The show's twisty concept played a big role in its early success, but it was the chemistry between the ensemble that helped the premise to thrive. The ensemble, which included Kristen Bell, William Jackson Harper, D’Arcy Carden, Manny Jacinto, and Ted Danson, has continued to headline high-profile projects since the show ended in 2020.
During an interview on Podcrushed, which is co-hosted by You lead star Penn Badgley, along with Nava Kavelin, and Sophie Ansari, Jamil spoke candidly about one role that she turned down. The actor revealed that she pulled out of an opportunity to audition for a You season 4 character, which came as part of a larger discussion about sex scenes and Jamil's own traumatic childhood experiences. But despite the heavy subject, Jamil concludes her thoughts on a lighter note and makes a reference to the fact that You season 4 actually features fewer sex scenes:
I don’t think I’ve ever been someone who would have enjoyed objectifying myself, personally. But that’s also because I have so much deep, like, childhood sexual trauma stuff. So I think that was never in the cards for me. You know, I still wear the… like, the little skirt or the busty top, but like, occasionally. But generally, I feel quite protective of myself in that way. Like, I don’t do sex scenes. In fact, I was supposed to audition for the most recent season of your show. My character was supposed to be quite sexy, and I pulled out of the audition, because I am so shy about anything sexy that I can’t. And then you f—cking came out and was like, ‘yeah, I’m not doing sex scenes anymore’. And I was like, I didn’t even know that was a boundary that we could draw. But then I was like, I should have gone and done the f–king show.
Who Jameela Jamil Could Have Played On Netflix's You?
Jamil, who has recently had notable guest roles in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and Poker Face season 1, doesn't mention which character she might've played. It's possible that she would have been Lady Phoebe, a role that ultimately went to Tilly Keeper. Even though the You season 4 ending was a reliable disaster, with several dead or left to rot because of the actions of Joe Goldberg (Badgley), Pheobe improbably gets to enjoy a satisfying resolution to her story.
It's also possible that Jamil might have played a different character altogether. On the whole, You tends to populate its cast with familiar faces that are not necessarily huge names. Whether an intentional casting approach or not, it does help to sell the story that Joe has come in contact with a random group of people and found fresh ways to upend their lives. But even with that, You has allowed for more recognizable small and supporting roles from the likes of John Stamos, Oscar nominee Greg Kinnear, and Desperate Housewives alum Marcia Cross. So as a more recognizable star, it would have been interesting to see where Jamil could have fit in.
The podcast discussion underlines that there's a lot that goes into on-screen plots that audiences may not be aware of. The topic of sexuality on-camera is complex, with an array of different opinions. And, overall, the conversation between Jamil and Badgley about the intimacy on You, and sex scenes more generally, is illuminating.
Source: Podcrushed