Blessed be Elisabeth Moss's change of heart. The actor who made June Osborne a household name admitted she very nearly walked away from the role that became her next big career move.

Too soon after Mad Men?

Moss explained on Watch What Happens Live on March 22 that the offer for The Handmaid's Tale arrived immediately after Mad Men finished. After nine years on one series, she was not expecting to jump into another right away. The project moved fast, with contracts being signed before she could fully process the decision.

So what changed her mind?

Her answer was both simple and funny. Moss said she almost declined, but then producers hinted about who they might ask next. She told host Andy Cohen she would reveal the name later, but not to anyone in the room at the time. That was enough to make her say yes.

On June's ending and the love triangle

When asked about June's romantic future now that the sixth and final season has aired, Moss stayed deliberately vague. She would not say whether June should have ended up with Max Minghella's Nick or O-T Fagbenle's Luke. She did admit that she felt fortunate to have had the choice between the two characters.

Mad Men reunion pitch? She is in

Andy Cohen suggested a spinoff reuniting Moss with former Mad Men costar Christina Hendricks, imagining the two ad-world characters teaming up. Moss said she loved the idea then and still does. She is not precious about revisiting previous work and enjoyed the chemistry with Hendricks.

What’s next for Moss

While fans wait to see if any spinoff actually happens, Moss is staying busy. She co-stars with Kate Mara in Apple TV's drama Imperfect Women.

Other famous roles that almost went to different actors

As a reminder that casting rooms are full of near-misses, here are a few notable examples from TV history.

  • Glen Powell auditioned for parts on Friday Night Lights, including the role that went to Taylor Kitsch.
  • Chris Pine tested for The O.C. but lost the role of Ryan Atwood to Ben McKenzie.
  • Jason Biggs was offered Ted Mosby on How I Met Your Mother and later called passing on it one of his biggest regrets.
  • Rob Lowe turned down Derek Shepherd on Grey's Anatomy, a decision he has joked cost him a lot of money.
  • Benedict Cumberbatch auditioned for Bill Compton on True Blood; the role went to Stephen Moyer.
  • Jessica Chastain read for Sookie Stackhouse on True Blood, a part that ultimately went to Anna Paquin.
  • Jennifer Lawrence auditioned as a teenager for Crystal Norris on True Blood, but age issues kept her from the role.
  • Cobie Smulders and Evangeline Lilly both tested for Lost roles; casting choices shaped both actors' career paths.
  • Katie Holmes was considered for roles on both Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Orange Is the New Black at different points in development.

Casting choices are fragile things. A single meeting, a different tape, or a last minute audition can change television history. In Moss's case, a little pressure and some clever persuasion turned an almost-no into one of the most talked about TV performances of recent years.