It’s hard to imagine anyone other than Barbara Eden in the starring role of I Dream of Jeannie. But the actress herself wasn’t originally sure she would be a good fit for the role in the iconic 1960s sitcom.
Eden, 94, played the mischievous blonde genie opposite Larry Hagman’s astronaut character, Major Tony Nelson, for five seasons on the NBC fantasy comedy, from 1965 to 1970. She became famous for her signature eye blink and belly-baring chiffon harem outfit, but initially assumed an exotic-looking brunette would be hired for the part.
In a new interview, Eden told People magazine she “didn’t audition” for the role of Jeannie but knew the type of women who were in the running.
“They had every tall brunette, winner of many beauty contests, they were testing,” she told the outlet. “I thought, ‘Oh, it’s not for me.’ The Middle Eastern girl, and that’s what they wanted. I’m a blonde, short blonde.“
Eden added that her agent sent her a script and told her that series creator, Sidney Sheldon, wanted her for the role.
“He said, ‘You have the part,’” Eden recalled. “And I said, ‘Do they know what I look like?’”
Once she accepted the role, Eden found out unexpected news.
“I was so happy during those years. I was doing what I wanted to do to make my living,” she once told Buzzfeed. “My husband (Michael Ansara), at the time, and I really wanted to have a baby, and it wasn’t happening, Then NBC picked up I Dream of Jeannie, and we got pregnant!”
“I didn’t expect to stay in the show, and I really didn’t care at that time,” she admitted. “I was just so happy to have a baby.”
During an appearance on the I Choose Me with Jennie Garth, Eden noted that she found out about her pregnancy on the same day she was told that Jeannie was going to go on the air. She immediately called Sheldon, fully expecting that her role would be recast.
“I sat down there with a big grin on my face and said, ‘You know, I’m pregnant, and I can’t do your show. I just had to let you know so you could recast it,’“ she recalled telling the showrunner.
Sheldon said he still wanted to see if it could all be worked out, and in the end, producers decided to hide Eden’s pregnancy with strategic props and flowy clothing to cover her belly.
Eden was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards for her role in I Dream of Jeannie.
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This story was originally published by Parade on Jul 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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