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Before she was a household name in Hollywood, starring in Pretty Little Liars and other film and TV appearances, Lucy Hale almost starred in one of the most iconic teen television shows of the 2000s — Hannah Montana. In a recent interview with BuzzFeed’s The Puppy Interview, Hale revealed that she had auditioned for the starring role on the Disney Channel hit, which went to Miley Cyrus.
It was the audition that prompted me to become an actress,” Hale said. “I remember it really well. It was a taped audition in Tennessee, and I was 14 years old.”.
The role, of course, launched Cyrus into global superstardom, with Hannah Montana from 2006 to 2011 and one of Disney’s highest-grossing franchises. But for Hale, even the auditioning was memorable. “It was a couple of years before they cast Miley in it,” she explained. “Even though I didn’t get the part, it was really cool. That was the time I knew I wanted to do this for real.”
In the same interview, Hale also spoke about the cycle of acting careers — a line of auditions, rejection, and sometimes success. “I’ve been in L.A. for almost 20 years now, and for every ‘yes’ you hear, there are probably 200 ‘no’s,” she said. “Everyone who does get a role — it’s probably because it was going to be their thing.”.
She also revealed that she auditioned for several other large productions that didn’t pan out, such as Pitch Perfect, Hairspray, 50 Shades of Grey, and the new horror film The Substance, which stars Demi Moore. These near-misses, she says, are just the nature of the business.
Hale also recalled her actual first pro acting job — a guest spot on Nickelodeon’s Drake & Josh when she was 15 years old. “I was completely nervous,” she said. “Drake asks in the scene, ‘What’s your name?’ and I say, ‘Hazel!’ He says, ‘Like the nut?’ and I say, ‘Uh-huh!’ That was my starring role. Groundbreaking material.”
While she didn’t get to experience the dual life of Miley Stewart, Hale forged her own path — enjoying a prosperous career in TV, film, and music. The Hannah Montana audition was a lost chance, but it ignited the dream that would define her future.
