Eve Plumb Reflects on Auditioning for ‘The Exorcist’

Eve Plumb recently shared her experience auditioning for the role of Regan MacNeil in the 1973 horror film The Exorcist. Although Linda Blair ultimately secured the part, Plumb expressed relief about not being cast, stating that the film “terrified” her.

Plumb, known for her role as Jan Brady on The Brady Bunch, auditioned for the film but was glad it didn’t work out. On the Behind the Awards with Eila Mell and Bruce Gotlieb podcast, she said, “I went in for a reading and that was it. So I don’t think I was even put on film.” At the time, Plumb was already successful on television, yet had the chance to explore roles in movies like William Friedkin’s supernatural horror film.

Despite the film’s success, Plumb found The Exorcist frightening. She mentioned in her memoir, Happiness Included, that watching the movie left her so scared, she slept in her mother’s bed for several nights. Linda Blair’s portrayal of a possessed girl in The Exorcist became iconic in horror history. The film also featured Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, and Jason Miller.

Blair’s performance earned her an Academy Award nomination and cemented her status as a household name. However, she became closely associated with the character of Regan. In her memoir, Plumb expressed compassion for Blair, noting the role’s lasting impact on her career: “I have compassion for what the movie did for Linda Blair and how it would be the role the press would never let her leave behind.”