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The Schmooze

Guess Who Almost Played Elaine on ‘Seinfeld’?

It’s hard to imagine “Seinfeld” without Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

Believe it or not, though, there was a time Dreyfus went neck and neck for the role with another hilarious actress.

Megan Mullally, who later hit the big time with her starring role on “Will and Grace,” told television host Andy Cohen last week that the part of Elaine came down to herself and Dreyfus.

The actress read with Jerry Seinfeld and said the two had “really good chemistry.”

“I actually thought I was going to get it,” Mullally said. “I didn’t get it. Spoiler alert.”

Another way the two actresses are linked?

“My college boyfriend [actor Brad Hall] is now married to Julia Louis-Dreyfus,” Mullally told Cohen.

Sounds like it all worked out the way it was supposed to.

Thea Glassman is an Associate Editor at the Forward. Reach her at glassman@forward.com or on Twitter at @theakglassman.

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