Elisabeth Moss Recalls Actors Flocking to a Now-Canceled Show When Mad Men Was Auditioning

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I remember Elisabeth Moss mentioning that, surprisingly, another show was the favorite among actors before anyone even knew about Mad Men. She shared that she was actually auditioning for something else at the same time she tried out for Peggy, and it seemed like a lot of other actors were really hoping to get that role instead. It’s funny to think about now, considering how iconic Mad Men became!

In a conversation with , Moss shared memories of her audition for Mad Men, and another highly sought-after show at the time. She explained, “It’s an interesting story – when they were casting Mad Men in New York, there were two pilot projects that were exceptionally strong, and all the actors wanted to be a part of them. One was Mad Men, but there was another one, which I won’t mention.”

People were more interested in watching the other show than Mad Men, Moss explained, because Mad Men aired on AMC. At the time, many people didn’t know what AMC was, thinking it only showed Terminator, she continued.

The actress continued, saying, “I recall attending another audition where all the people in the waiting area were models. I was 23 years old and clearly didn’t fit the type they were seeking.”

Although she wasn’t cast in the first role she tried for, she did audition for Mad Men and immediately felt a strong connection to the character Peggy. She explained, “Yeah, Peggy feels more my speed. This feels right for me. It feels very natural to play her.” She described it as effortlessly slipping into something comfortable, saying, “It felt like putting on a pair of your favorite jeans. It was just so natural for me to play Peggy.” While she didn’t land the initial part, she *did* get Mad Men. Moss also mentioned that the other show she auditioned for was canceled before the end of its first season.

Created by Matthew Weiner, Mad Men transported audiences to the 1960s, offering a look into the rapidly growing world of advertising. The series centered on Don Draper, a creative director and junior partner at Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency, whose ambition fueled his career advancement, often at a personal cost. The main cast of Mad Men also included Elisabeth Moss, Christina Hendricks, January Jones, Vincent Kartheiser, Rich Sommer, Aaron Staton, John Slattery, Michael Gladis, and Robert Morse.

The Popularity and Legacy of Mad Men – Explained

Both critics and viewers loved the show. During its seven seasons on AMC, Mad Men created a total of 92 episodes. Starting with Season 2, the show consistently drew over 1 million viewers per episode, and in its later seasons, the average climbed to around 2.5 million.

Mad Men received hundreds of award nominations from the industry and won an impressive 79 awards. Some of its biggest achievements include winning the Golden Globe for Best Television Series – Drama three years in a row – in 2008, 2009, and 2010. Jon Hamm also received a Golden Globe in 2016 for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama. Elisabeth Moss was nominated for an Emmy six times for Outstanding Lead Actress. Following her work on the show, she went on to win two Emmys for her portrayal of June in The Handmaid’s Tale.

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2025-10-05 20:36