Casting Director taunts Barbara Eden ‘Not Hollywood’?

Casting director says Barbara Eden ‘Not Hollywood’—read her reaction and determination.

Barbara Eden recalled

Barbara Eden, a famous actress of the 1950s-60s, recently recalled the day when a Warner Bros.

casting director taught her a lesson. He said, “You’re just not Hollywood,” and Eden burst into tears upon hearing those words.

A painful meeting

In Jennie Garth’s I Choose Me podcast, Eden said that she mentioned her theater training, Actors’ Equity membership, and hard work to the director.

But he just said, “What’s wanted here is… big features.”

When he showed her daughter’s picture and explained what the producer liked, Eden was shocked.

Unwavering courage after tears

Outside the meeting, Eden kept crying, but did not lose courage.

She decided that she would look different and become a character actress.

She said, “Every character needs a different face. If I’m not beautiful, I don’t care.”

Jeannie’s birth and controversy

In 1966, she landed the role of Jeannie in NBC’s I Dream of Jeannie.

The two-piece outfit showed off her midriff and belly button.

Eden later said in an AP interview, “People started recognizing me because of my navel.

Where did the head go? Only the belly button was left!”

94th birthday celebration

Recently in Los Angeles, Eden was spotted in a red outfit as she left a hair salon on her 94th birthday.

She was holding a birthday card and her face was still as bright as it seemed as if time had stopped.

Memories of motherhood

“We were both pregnant together,” Eden said.

In August 1965, she gave birth to her son Matthew Ansara, whom she shared with ex-husband Michael Ansara.

Sadly, Matthew died in 2001 at the age of 35.

Character Actress Journey

Eden started with small roles in I Love Lucy, Father Knows Best, and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.

Then she became a legend by becoming Jeannie.

Even though the director called her ‘Not Hollywood’, Eden proved that true talent shines everywhere.

Barbara Eden’s story teaches us that criticism sometimes makes us stronger and real success comes from the courage that is born from confidence, not luck.