‘Hannah Montana’ Casting Director Reveals Who Almost Played Miley’s Part

The casting director of Hannah Montana has revealed which two actresses nearly received the position that made Miley Cyrus a star.

Lisa London named the opposite younger hopefuls who had been within the working to play the teenage woman with a double life as a pop star—and you’ll acknowledge them from Gossip Girl and Victorious.

London posted a video on TikTok to right one other person who had claimed that the Mexican-Spanish singer Belinda had been one of many contenders for the Disney present.

“I’m actually the original casting director on Hannah Montana and I discovered Miley Cyrus,” London stated in her clip. “I wanted to let everybody know that Belinda, who’s lovely by the way, was never in the top three for the role of Hannah.

“These are the final three actresses that auditioned at the network test out of over 1,200 girls.”

London then confirmed a chunk of paper dated May 6, 2005, with the heading “London / Stroud Casting.” It listed the names of the three contenders. Alongside Cyrus, there was Taylor Momsen, who appeared in Gossip Girl and How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Daniella Monet, who performed Trina Vega on Victorious.

The audition sheet listed the position as “Chloe” and London revealed that this was going to be Hannah Montana’s different title earlier than it was modified to Miley.

Addressing the TikTik poster who had made the clip about Belinda, London added: “I love that you were such a fan of the show.”

The teen sitcom ran for 4 seasons on the Disney Channel, starting in March 2006. The last episode was broadcast in January 2011. Although it ended greater than 10 years in the past, the present stays a serious popular culture touchstone.

In 2021, to mark Hannah Montana‘s fifteenth anniversary, Cyrus launched an open letter she wrote to her character to mirror on the expertise.

“You were like a rocket that flew me to the moon [and] never let me back down,” Cyrus wrote on a glittery piece of Hannah Montana stationery. “You have all my love [and] utmost gratitude. Breathing life into you for those 6 years was an honor. I am indebted not only to you Hannah but to anyone [and] everyone who believed in me from the beginning.”

Cyrus additionally thanked the crew and her household for the help they provided her whereas making the present. She ended the notice by calling the character “the greatest gift a girl could ask for.”