Thursday, December 16, 2010

Paul Rudd Says He Almost Lost 'How Do You Know' Role

Rudd tells MTV News he got a do-over after showing up to audition for director James Brooks with a raging fever.
By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz


Paul Rudd in "How Do You Know"
Photo: David James/ Columbia

At this point in his career, it's hard to imagine that comedically gifted actor Paul Rudd would ever not be considered for a role he wanted. However, Rudd's role in James L. Brooks' romantic comedy "How Do You Know" is a part that almost wasn't.

"I didn't get a call [to audition]," Rudd recently told MTV News about finding his way to the film. "I knew this movie was going to happen, and I just inquired if I could get an audition and I got a call to read at James Brooks' apartment," he explained. "So the first thing was, 'Oh my God I'm going to James Brooks' apartment!' "

That was the good news. Unfortunately, that first meeting with Brooks was scheduled just as Rudd was coming down with a fever.

"I had a very high temperature. ... It was like 101 degrees," Rudd recalled. "I went up and I was not quite [myself], I couldn't even add correctly. So I read, and it was just not that good," he admitted. "Thankfully, I had my faculties with me enough that I asked him if I could meet with him again in a few weeks — he was going to go back to Los Angeles and I had to be in Los Angeles for something else. He said, 'Yeah, sure.' "

Rudd said that second meeting secured his fate. "I'm really happy that I [asked for another meeting] because there was no way it would have happened otherwise, based on the reading in New York," he said. "So I went and then read with Reese [Witherspoon] in his office."

Obviously, the rest is history, since Rudd is in "How Do You Know" (on the posters and everything) and it opens Friday.

Check out everything we've got on "How Do You Know."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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