What inspired the character of Sydney Bristow?

Jennifer Garner is a celebrity.

J.J. Abrams first met the actress, whose credits include playing Jennifer Love Hewitt's roommate on the short-lived Time of Your Life, when she appeared as a guest star on Felicity, which Abrams co-created with Matt Reeves.

""There was this potential about her," Abrams told E! News in October 2001. There was a spark, and I just felt that giving her the chance to do something big, out there, badass, and entertaining would be wonderful to watch, because I just believed she possessed that."

Jennifer  Garner was shocked given that she had to audition five times before being cast as Hannah for one episode of Felicity (the role made two further appearances). In 2002, she told USA Today, "'What did you see in me that made you believe I could accomplish this?' I inquired. What's up, Mr. Magoo? 'Where's my car, dude?'"

To be sure, Abrams told TV Line during an Alias oral history in 2016, when he was writing the pilot "I tried not to think about Jen because I wanted Sydney to be her own entity, which Jen could later bring to life, or anyone. But there was no one else I genuinely thought about but her."

Not Just Another Day at Work

Garner was not automatically hired for the top post. There was still an audition procedure, and Jenna Fischer of The Office's future Pam was also in the running to rush about in stilettos.

"You know, I auditioned for the role of Sidney Bristow on Alias and I got really far," Fischer told former co-star Angela Kinsey on a September 2020 episode of their Office Ladies podcast while rehashing the episode in which Dwight admits the only stripper he's ever met was one of Sydney's alter egos.

"So I went in and read for the job," Fischer explained, "and my audition scene was this incredibly emotional, dramatic sequence where I'm weeping... I think about my mother." And it was really intense. And the reply my agency received was, 'Jenna blew us away.' We had a great time. Her scenario was excellent, and she performed admirably. We're going to pass on her because we just don't believe she's hot enough.' That was my response."

Jim Halpert's face is flushed with frustration.

Green Light 

Garner was watching Traffic with her phone in hand, waiting for a call, when she learned she had booked the pilot.

"I don't think I've ever desired something so passionately or fought so hard for," she told TV Line. "So I was in the middle of a movie when my phone began to ring, and I dashed outdoors. It was finally mine, and all I could think about was watching the remainder of Traffic like it was a romantic comedy. I felt like I was floating above the rest of the seats in the cinema. And I was really frightened out."

Abrams still had to battle to cast Garner in Round 1 because, as executive producer Jeff Pinkner recalled, "ABC at the time was not interested" owing to her lack of substantial past experience. "The beautiful thing about J.J. is that he drags you into a battle like that," Garner recalled. In it, I was a part of his squad... At the very least, I knew what I was up against." "I believe she impressed everyone away with her commitment," Pinkner added.

When the filming began, there was some concern on both Abrams' and Garner's parts that she would not be able to pull it off. "So we had this meeting," Abrams explained to E! News, "and we just talked about the character in a way we hadn't since the beginning, and we really just went through it, and it was like we just realized we had to jump in 100 percent and do it in a way that was really committed to it." He added, "And she was, from that moment on, beyond any expectations, she was incredible."

Abrams expressed gratitude for Garner's willingness to "do anything." "'I want to do it!' she says if there's some stupid 60-foot wire rig thing... 'I got my own harness!' she exclaims. She's insane."

The Humble Ensemble

Count everyone who was pleasantly surprised to have landed a part on Alias, from Garner to Victor Garber, who portrayed Sydney's mysterious father and fellow agent Jack Bristow. "I was certain that the man who went in ahead of me was going to get the part because he looked precisely like Jack Bristow," Garber told TV Line. "'Why am I here?' I asked. This man is ideal...' To be honest, I was surprised. I am overjoyed."

Michael Vartan, who portrayed Vaughn (or did he...? ), said that he and Bradley Cooper, who played Sydney's conflicted (and not just because of the frosted tips) journalism buddy Will Tippin, both believed they'd blown their auditions. Vartan did, in fact, fumble his first read ("I was sweating excessively"), but his second attempt went better. "It's weird because when we finished reading, Bradley and I just hung around outdoors," the actor remembered. "We both looked at each other and said, 'Dude, we're not both understanding this part.'" Surprise, surprise, we both got the job."

Surprisingly, Vartan did not have to go through a screen test with Garner beforehand, but he said, "I dare a paper bag not to have chemistry with Jennifer Garner." (Let's just say she'd never been kissed by Vartan until the screenplay required it.)

Source: E