Lucy Hale reflects on auditioning for Miley Cyrus’ iconic ‘Hannah Montana’ role

Lucy Hale is taking a trip down memory lane, revealing she once auditioned for the lead role in Hannah Montana—the character that ultimately skyrocketed Miley Cyrus to fame.

While promoting her latest film, F** Marry Kill*, the Pretty Little Liars star sat down for Buzzfeed’s The Puppy Interview and shared a surprising list of films and shows she had auditioned for in the past.

“Oh my gosh, I’ve auditioned for Pitch Perfect, Hairspray, Hannah Montana, 50 Shades of Grey, The Substance—so many,” Hale admitted.

Recalling her early days in the industry, she explained, “When I still lived in Tennessee, I was 14 at the time—so this would have been, ‘math, math’… 21 years ago. It was a couple of years before they had cast Miley in it.”

Hale described how that particular audition shaped her career aspirations. “I remember the audition. It was a taped audition in Tennessee. It was the audition that made me want to be an actress. I remember that vividly—it was very cool.”

Though she didn’t land the role, the experience was pivotal in her journey, leading her to a successful career in Hollywood.