‘Schitt’s Creek’: Was Annie Murphy Originally Going To Play Stevie?
It’s safe to say Alexis Rose and Stevie Budd are total opposites on Schitt’s Creek. Despite being friends, these two characters couldn’t be more different. Stevie is lowkey, introverted, and hates being the center of attention. Alexis, on the other hand, is desperate for the spotlight. Annie Murphy’s character loves attention, and will talk the ears off of anyone willing to listen. Yet despite their opposition, Murphy reveals she auditioned for the part of Stevie.
Alexis Rose and Stevie Budd couldn’t be more different
It’s almost comical imagining Murphy for the role of Stevie. After watching her play Alexis Rose for six seasons, it is nearly impossible to picture her hiding behind a motel desk like Stevie.
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Alexis is extroverted to the point of being clingy with people she hardly knows. Meanwhile, Stevie works hard to remain in the shadows. Yet Stevie does manage to come out of her shell in season 5, during her show-stopping Cabaret performance. It’s so exhilarating to witness the timid motel employee as she brings tears to our eyes while singing “Maybe This Time.”
Alexis, on the other hand, is more notable for her performance of “A Little Bit Alexis.” While both songs are iconic in their own right, one offers comedic relief while the other is gut-wrenching. These musical performances prove just how different these characters are. Despite this, Murphy has revealed that she auditioned to play the role of Stevie (as well as Alexis.)
Annie Murphy auditioned for the part of Stevie Budd
In an interview with Vulture, Murphy dishes on how she was considered for the role of Stevie Budd.
Murphy reveals,
“I auditioned for Alexis and I got a call from Dan (Levy) after my first audition, asking me to also audition for Stevie. So I ended up testing for both of those ladies, and it was super fun to be able to play different characters. But as soon as I met Emily (Stevie) I was like, ‘why on earth would these people entertain the idea of anyone else playing this part?’ She blows it out of the water.”
Murphy also says she could never pull off Stevie’s “deadpan” persona like Emily Hampshire. Praising her co-star, she tells Vulture, “I don’t want to live in a world where Emily doesn’t play Stevie!”
Annie Murphy was broke before getting cast in Schitt’s Creek
On The Kelly Clarkson Show, Murphy admits how tough things were before landing the part of Alexis Rose. She tells Kelly that she only had about three dollars in her bank account and that her apartment had just burned down right before the audition.
After blowing her first screen test, the actor admitted to having a “snotty” sob session in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, where she was ready to give up her acting career all-together. Considering she hadn’t acted in two years, Murphy was fully ready to quit. Yet the next day, the talented actor landed an audition for Schitt’s Creek. She admits that getting cast “changed her life forever.”
