The Best Lie Hollywood Was Ever Told

The Best Lie Hollywood Was Ever Told

In 1998, 14-year-old Mila Kunis, whose family had fled Ukraine and was living in poverty, was desperate for work. So when she was told that “That ’70s Show” was only auditioning actors over 18, she didn’t bat an eye and replied, “I’ll be 18 on my birthday.” And she got the role. For several months, she played Jackie, Kelso’s spoiled but beloved girlfriend. And then the truth came out: she was only 14. The producers panicked, preparing for lawsuits and her firing. But Mila, who carried the memory of her struggle for survival, made them an offer they couldn’t refuse: “Give me one more episode. If I can’t handle it, I’ll leave quietly.” She performed that episode like never before. And she stayed. 20 years later, producer Phil Rosenthal confessed, “It was the best lie I’ve ever been told.” And Mila, with her signature smirk, replied, “I didn’t lie. I just failed to correct your assumption.”