It’s safe to say that there might not be a Kate Hudsonif not for Almost Famous. Though she had appeared in a few movies before starring in Cameron Crowe’s semi-autobiographical film, her performance as Penny Lane was the breakthrough that launched a career that’s still going strong to this day.
And shockingly—she almost didn’t play the part. That’s what she said while speaking with Entertainment Tonight.
After first marveling over Penny Lane “and her coat!” and the fact that Almost Famous came out twenty-five years ago, Hudson, 46, said how she was initially cast as Anita, the sister to Patrick Fugit’s character, aspiring rock journalist William Miller.
“Sarah Polley was supposed to play Penny Lane,” said Hudson. Polley was a child actress, appearing in The Adventures of Baron Munchausen and the Canadian series Road to Avonlea. In the late ‘90s, she had a career resurgence with roles in The Sweet Hereafter and Go, and her next big part was that of the groupie in love with Billy Crudup’s character, rocker Russell Hammond.”
“Brad Pitt was supposed to play Russell,” shared Hudson. “And then, [he and Polley] fell through, and I was the only one cast.”
Seeing an opportunity, Hudson decided to take her shot. “I was like, ‘Cameron, can I please audition for Penny Lane?’ And he didn’t really want it at first,” she said. “And then, like four auditions later, finally, he called me and was like, ‘Want to be Penny Lane?’ and I was like, ‘Oh my god, yes!’”
The action proved beneficial for everyone. Hudson’s face on the Almost Famous poster became one of the most iconic film posters of all time. The film was a critical success, earning four Academy Award nominations (including one for Hudson, as Best Supporting Actress). At the 2002 Golden Globes, Almost Famous won the award for Best Motion Picture—Musical or Comedy, and Hudson won the award for Best Supporting Actress.
“All of this was magic for me,” she said, “because it completely changed my life. I mean, it changed the whole trajectory of my career.
Hudson’s profile would skyrocket after Almost Famous, as she would star in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, You, Me and Dupree and land a recurring role on Glee. Most recently, she had a jaw-dropping role in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, and later this year, she’ll appear alongside Hugh Jackman in the Neil Diamond-themed musical biopic, Song Sung Blue.
Related: Kate Hudson Stuns Fans With Real-Life ‘Penny Lane’ Moment in Aspen
This story was originally reported by Parade on Sep 14, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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