" It ’s a very rare experience . I think we ’re cognizant of how singular this is . "
1.First,Kerry WashingtonandTony Goldwyn"never"did a chemistry read before they started filmingScandalas Olivia and Fitz.
2.Before starring as Colin and Penelope inBridgerton, Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newtondidn’t have a chemistry test, but they spent the years prior to Season 3buildingtheir friendship off-screen, so their on-screen chemistry was incredibly strong.
3.Scott Patterson and Lauren Graham didn’t have a chemistry test before they were cast as Luke and Lorelai inGilmore Girls.Theymet for the first timein a hotel in Canada, and the cast had dinner together before filming the pilot.
4.Meanwhile, Milo Ventimiglia wasofferedthe role of Jess Mariano inGilmore Girlsafter one audition and without a chemistry test alongside Alexis Bledel.
5.Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cookedidn’t doa chemistry read together before they were cast as Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower inHouse of the Dragon.
6.Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey had neverspokenbefore they were officially cast as Joel Miller and Ellie Williams inThe Last of Us. In fact, they met for the first time over Zoom during the show’s sexual harassment prevention training.
7.During the audition process for Bellamy Blake onThe 100, Bob Morley said heneverhad a chemistry read with anyone, including Eliza Taylor, who starred as Clarke Griffin. He actually booked the role within 10 days.
8.When Dan Levy was looking to cast David’s love interest forSchitt’s Creek, he hired Noah Reidwithoutdoing a chemistry test with him. The first time they read together was during the cast’s read-through for Patrick’s first episode in Season 3.
9.Quinta Brunsonactually DM’dTyler James Williams, asking him to star inAbbott Elementaryas Gregory. Tyler revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that after messaging back and forth, Quinta sent him the script, and he said yes, so there was no formal chemistry read process for the two of them.
10.Despite both of them being veteran actors, Linda Cardellini and Christina Applegate hadnever metprior toDead to Me. While they didn’t do a traditional chemistry read, they both had lunch with creator Liz Feldman prior to filming, where she really saw how great they were together.
11.Zach Braffdidn’t meetDonald Faison until the very first table read forScrubs. Despite having to play best friends J.D. and Turk, they didn’t meet during the audition process.
12.Katherine Barrell and Dom Provost-Chalkleydidn’t meetuntil Kat showed up on the set ofWynonna Earpfor the filming of the second episode when Waverly meets Nicole.
13.Freddy Carter and Amita Suman didn’t have a chemistry read before starring inShadow and Bonetogether as Kaz Brekker and Inej Ghafa. Amitatold Collider, “Freddy and I didn’t get any chemistry reads. But as soon as he walked through the door, I knew there was, at least in my eyes, the perfect Kaz.”
14.When Stefania Spampinato joinedStation 19after playing Carina DeLuca inGrey’s Anatomy, she and Danielle Savre hadnever met before, and didn’t do a chemistry read. The first time they met was during the table read for Stefania’s firstStation 19episode.
15.And finally, Emily Bett Rickards wasoriginallyonly supposed to appear in one episode ofArrowas Felicity Smoak. She didn’t have a chemistry read with Stephen Amell prior to filming, and their chemistry ultimately changed the course of the series.
