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Olivia Munn Claims Alec Baldwin Cost Her ‘30 Rock’ Role Over Age Concerns
Olivia Munn is opening up about a missed opportunity that she believes was out of her control.
According to story published by The Hollywood Reporter on Friday, April 3, the 45-year-old revealed she had landed a role on 30 Rock — only to lose it days later after Alec Baldwin allegedly objected to her casting.
According to Munn, she was initially offered the role of Avery Jessup, a character who later became the love interest of Baldwin’s Jack Donaghy. But the excitement didn’t last. Two days later, Munn says she was told, “‘No, no, no. Alec thinks that you look too young and he’s putting his foot down.’”
The part ultimately went to Elizabeth Banks.
At the time, Baldwin — whose wife, Hilaria Baldwin is 26 years his junior — was 52, while Munn was 30. Banks, at the time, was 36.
Despite the setback, Munn said she wasn’t devastated.
“I only thought to myself, ‘Wow, look how far I got,’” she explained, noting the experience actually boosted her confidence.
While the role could have been a major breakthrough, Munn — who shares son who shares son Malcolm, 4, and daughter Mei, 18 months, with husband John Mulaney — went on to build a successful career anyway, starring in projects like The Newsroom and blockbuster films like X-Men: Apocalypse.
