Olivia Munn claimed that Alec Baldwin blocked her from landing a role on “30 Rock” because he didn’t think she looked old enough to play his love interest.
The actress revealed in a new interview that she’d landed the role of Avery Jessup, but two days later she was told Baldwin thought she “looked too young.”
“Another two days later, ‘No, no, no. They think you’re perfect. You’re going to fly out on Saturday.’ Friday, ‘No, no, no. Alec thinks that you look too young and he’s putting his foot down,’” she told the Hollywood Reporter.
Olivia Munn (seen above at the “Your Friends and Neighbors” Season 2 premiere) claimed that Alec Baldwin got her fired from “30 Rock.” Getty Images
Munn said she initially got cast as Avery Jessup, who ended up being played by Elizabeth Banks (Baldwin is pictured above in “30 Rock”). ©NBC/Courtesy Everett Collection
Munn, 45, noted that Elizabeth Banks ultimately got the role of Avery.
Page Six has reached out to Baldwin’s rep for comment.
Avery, a financial CNBC reporter and Jack Donaghy’s (Baldwin) future wife, is introduced on “30 Rock” during Season 4 in 2010.
Munn claims she was told, “Alec thinks that you look too young and he’s putting his foot down.’” (Baldwin and Banks are seen above in “30 Rock”). ©NBC/Courtesy Everett Collection
Avery Jessup (played by Banks, pictured above with Baldwin) is introduced on the show in 2010. ©NBC/Courtesy Everett Collection
At the time, Baldwin was 52 and Banks was 36, while Munn was 30.
Munn told THR that while she knows starring in the NBC sitcom would’ve been her “big break,” she wasn’t “devastated” about the firing.
“I only thought to myself, ‘Wow, look how far I got,’” she said. “I ended up not getting the job because of something I couldn’t control.”
Munn (pictured above at the 2025 Baby2Baby Gala) said she wasn’t “devastated” by her “30 Rock” firing. Getty Images for Baby2Baby
“I ended up not getting the job because of something I couldn’t control,” said Munn (Baldwin is pictured above). Getty Images
“On my ability and my acting, I got it,” Munn added. “It gave me so much confidence.”
Munn stated that getting the “30 Rock” job offer was enough for her.
“These people, iconic people — Tina Fey, Robert Carlock, Grace Wu at NBC casting — they all thought that I was good enough to have gotten the offer,” she said.
Baldwin starred in “30 Rock” with Tracy Morgan, Rachel Dratch, Jack McBayer and Tina Fey (all pictured above). ©NBC/Courtesy Everett Collection
“30 Rock” aired on NBC from 2006 to 2013 (Baldwin is pictured above in the show). ©NBC/Courtesy Everett Collection
“That’s what I needed. Whether or not I got the job didn’t affect my confidence.”
Looking back on the situation, Munn said she “felt really good” going into her “30 Rock” audition.
“I dressed for the part, which I’d never really done before. I signed in and I walked outside near the soundstages. Normally I’d want to be right there. I’d want them to see me. “I just had this confidence like, ‘They’ll come find me,’” she explained.
Munn (seen above in “Your Friends and Neighbors”) said she “felt really good” going into her audition for “30 Rock.” Apple TV
Munn now stars in “Your Friends and Neighbors” alongside Jon Hamm. Apple TV
Munn continued, “I kept working on it until I got into the room. I just stayed in [the character]. I got the call that I booked the job, and I knew that I protected my psyche and kept myself from feeling envy and competition with the other women.”
Despite losing the gig, Munn made a name for herself starring in “The Newsroom” on HBO from 2012 to 2014 and films like “X-Men: Apocalypse” (2016) and “The Predator” (2018).
She currently stars opposite Jon Hamm in the popular Apple TV series “Your Friends and Neighbors.”