Keeley Hazell has revealed she required extensive therapy after losing out on a role in the hit Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso. The former Page 3 model was told by a well-known Hollywood star that a part had been written for her in the show, and she said she nearly "wet her pants with excitement."
Role Written for Hazell Went to Juno Temple
Hazell was geared up to play Keeley Jones, a former glamour model, but the part eventually went to Juno Temple, who later earned three Emmy nominations for the role.
Speaking to the i Paper, Keeley revealed: "It's a complete mind-f**k, especially as the show rendered immense amounts of success for the actress that plays Keeley - it changed her life. It needs a lot of therapy and I've had a lot for it."
Connection to the Show Began with Dinner
Hazell says her connection to Ted Lasso began long before she appeared on screen. After meeting Jason Sudeikis for dinner, she was told he had created a character closely modelled on her, complete with the name "Keeley."
Despite that, Hazell did not land the prominent role. Keeley was reportedly at the "top of the list," but Jason later delivered the disappointing news that she was being "offered another part."
Smaller Role and Writing Team
Hazell still carved out a place on the production, taking a smaller acting role and joining the writing team as a staff writer. She describes the experience in her memoir, Everyone’s Seen My Tits, and it has been discussed in reports by Us Weekly.
Keeley wrote that she felt like she'd been "punched in the chest." She added: "Once I didn't get cast as Keeley, I decided that acting could go f*** itself."
Oscar-Worthy Performance
Keeley also revealed that she put on an "Oscar-worthy" performance, pretending she was "totally fine" with the outcome. "It was better than my acting in the show, which was bad. Just awful. Instead of using this as an opportunity to prove how good I was, I sabotaged myself on-screen with defiant disengagement."
She added: "I get to play the greatest role of my lifetime - the Real Keeley, and here she f***ing is."
