Christina Applegate has revealed that she initially declined her role in the 2004 comedy 'Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy' because the salary offer was too low. The actress, 54, appeared virtually on Wednesday's episode of 'The View' and said the initial proposal was 'a little... offensive'.
Applegate explained that she turned down the part, stating, 'I know my worth, and I can't do that.' In her new memoir, 'You with the Sad Eyes', she disclosed that Will Ferrell and director Adam McKay contributed portions of their own salaries to ensure she received fair compensation. 'They wanted me bad enough,' she told the show's hosts.
The actress, who played reporter Veronica Corningstone, described the experience as 'one of the best experiences of my entire life'. She praised the improvisational skills of her co-stars, including Steve Carell and Paul Rudd, calling it 'the masterclass that people paid for'.
Applegate, who had previously starred in 'Married with Children' and the romcom 'The Sweetest Thing', admitted she was initially nervous about the improv-heavy production. She recalled director Adam McKay's instruction to 'just do whatever you feel like doing', while she secretly wished for scripted lines.
The Emmy-winning actor returned for the 2013 sequel, 'Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues'. She is currently promoting her debut memoir, which details her experiences with abuse and her diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in 2021.
