Fri Jul 13

“It was for a role in 2003’s Mona Lisa Smile, the [etiquette professor] part that ended up being played by Marcia Gay Harden,” says Ratatouille’s Garofalo. “Julia Roberts read with me. She even took the time to give me a pep talk. She’s Julia Roberts — she doesn’t have to read with anyone. But I knew I wasn’t going to get it. It was so much pressure that I burst into tears and wept at the reading. I was overcome by the feeling that I was going to let her down. The director told my agent, ‘That’s one of the worst auditions I have ever seen.’ That’s how I know for sure. I didn’t really need that extra kick in the pants; I was already a mess. I am not in that position where people hunt me down with offers.... Maybe it was a blessing. I would have had to wear tight dresses and get up early to have makeup slapped on my face. It worked out for the best. Well, at least to save some face now, I pretend it worked out for the best.”