20. Sarah Michelle Gellar Auditioned For Cordelia

When 19 year old actress Sarah Michelle Gellar was cast as the Slayer way back in 1997 TV history was made. Despite there being an earlier film version of the story with Kristy Swanson, SMG was so right for the role it's hard to imagine anyone else playing Buffy in the series. When she first auditioned for the show, however, Gellar went for the role of bitchy cheerleader Cordelia, Buffy's high school rival and eventual member of the Scooby Gang. Thankfully, Joss Whedon decided that Gellar was much better suited to the lead role and cast Charisma Carpenter as Cordelia, who equally went on to make the character her own throughout both Buffy and spin-off Angel. Extra fact: When she was cast as the 16 year old Cordelia, Charisma Carpenter was actually 27.