Janelle James finds herself reminiscing about a pivotal role that slipped through her fingers. During her guest appearance on Kelly Ripa's podcast, "Let's Talk Off Camera," the star of "Abbott Elementary" was quizzed on whether she could bear to watch projects she had auditioned for but ultimately missed out on. This prompted James to share her thoughts on a specific part she had "craved deeply."
"It's been a while since I pondered this," she began, her voice tinged with nostalgia. "There was another role I was incredibly enthusiastic about – 'GLOW.' Remember that? The female wrestling series," she enthused. "I had my heart set on that one."
She elaborated, "It was meant for one of the wrestling divas, and as part of the audition, we were required to create an '80s rap and perform it, alongside staging a solo fight scene. I laid down my rap with conviction and followed it up with a spirited round kick. I remember exiting the audition thinking, 'I aced it!' Yet, the role eluded me."
James confessed that to date, she hadn't "so much as glanced at a single frame of that show." "I'm still pretty bitter about it," she added, with a hint of a smile, before suggesting that perhaps, just perhaps, she might indulge in a watch that very day following the interview.
Tragically, in 2020, Netflix reversed its decision to renew 'GLOW' for a fourth season, citing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as the reason behind scrapping the series' final chapter. By then, 'GLOW' had already embarked on season four's production, completing one episode and beginning work on another, before the coronavirus crisis brought production to a grinding halt, along with numerous other TV shows and films.
Over its three-season run, the series garnered 18 Emmy nominations and three wins. Created by Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch, 'GLOW' was a fictionalized account inspired by the real-life professional wrestling program, 'Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling,' which debuted in the 1980s, captivating audiences with its unique blend of drama, comedy, and high-octane wrestling action.
