“I was signing off”: Schitt's Creek star Annie Murphy reveals she initially thought she lost Alexis Rose’s role – Here’s why

It's usually a rollercoaster ride to get a big TV job – all the suspense, expectation, and the occasional bout of deafening quiet. That's what happened to Annie Murphy in Schitt's Creek, who went on to charm with her turn as Alexis Rose. But before she was known as the sassiest, fashion-conscious former high-society woman, Murphy thought that she had phoned the part entirely. Actually, she'd already in her head "signed off" on the part, thinking it was just not going to happen.

According to ScreenRant, Murphy made a statement on Not Skinny But Not Fat. She said,

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"I got a call from Dan and he was like, 'Hey, just wanted to thank you so much for all the effort and all the time that you put in. Yeah, we really appreciated it so much.' "And that's what people say when they're about to be like, 'F--- you, we went with someone else.' And I was like, 'Okay, thanks so much.'"

She continued,

"And then I was signing off the call and he was like, 'Just one quick thing, um, do you want to play my sister on the show?'"

That had been the incorrect assumption, because Levy hadn't called to let her down easy. He called to tell her that she'd gotten the part. Murphy's first reaction was shock and a tear, as weeks of anticipation were released at once.

A long wait with no feedback led to a self-existential crisis for a role in Schitt's Creek

Murphy auditioned for Schitt's Creek at a time when employment did not flow and faith in herself was at an all-time low. Following a final audition, waiting ensued. But unlike the usual castings where there is criticism or how to continue just around the corner, it was an eternity-long wait without a word.

The silence became louder day by day, and Murphy eventually accepted that the role had escaped her. She even started mourning the loss in her head, recalibrating herself once more to the all-too-well-known jabs of rejection.

The life-changing phone call by Dan Levy for Schitt's Creek

And then there was that unexpected telephone call. Murphy was flabbergasted and cried in her car at the time, utterly taken aback by the direction her day — and life's work — had suddenly taken.

By the time Murphy's experience had been irretrievably changed, Alexis Rose was one of the show's most well-loved and well-liked characters, but the actress who played her didn't know it yet. Murphy's experience is a reminder of just how emotionally draining the audition process is, even when the ultimate reward does become a reality.

Silence does not equal rejection

The actress indicates something about the nature of the audition world as well. Terrific performances are followed by hours of silence, and actors must fill in gaps with their imaginations — lousy ones, as a rule. Murphy figured she blew it wasn't due to any sort of criticism, but because no criticism was forthcoming.

And yet, that break was not because the producers felt she was not talented enough as an actress or suitable for the role. What transpired was that the break was just a temporary phase, not the last say.

An almost-lost role in Schitt's Creek

Annie Murphy's acting in Schitt's Creek as Alexis only went on to be one of Schitt's Creek's strengths and drew in additional viewers. But as her tale illustrates, landing that role was never more a matter of being talented — it was also about staying power, endurance, and having the strength to keep plugging away even when hope begins to lose its potency.

Her tale illustrates how quickly it can spin around in the entertainment world. You're wrapping one day, and the next you're performing in a very highly praised ensemble cast.

Believers of today prefer to commemorate her as Alexis Rose, but it was a journey in doubt, more than most realize. And for Murphy, that brutal reality of one phone call was enough to turn her world around.

Also read: Schitt’s Creek characters, ranked by how much they actually changed

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