Before Paul Rudd became widely known for his role as Ant-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he captured audiences as Josh in the 1995 film Clueless. However, he nearly missed out on landing that part due to an unexpected haircut shortly after his initial audition.
Rudd shared in an interview on TODAY with Jenna and Sheinelle that he showed up to the audition with longer, grunge-style hair. After finishing, he impulsively walked past a barbershop and decided to buzz his hair short, which complicated his chances for the role.
I didn’t think about it after I auditioned for it. I was down the street and I walked past a barbershop and said, ‘Just buzz it.’ And they went and cut off all my hair,
Rudd recounted.
Then about a week after that, I went to a restaurant and saw Amy Heckerling, the director,
he continued.
She said, ‘What did you do to your hair? You were in the running for this part.’
Determined to still secure the role, Rudd wore wigs during his screentest, but none resembled his original appearance closely enough. Despite this setback, he was ultimately cast as Josh, allowing him to make a lasting impression in the film.
How ‘Clueless’ Influenced Paul Rudd’s Early Career Without Instant Fame
While many fans first recognized Paul Rudd from Clueless, the actor has said that the part did not immediately bring him widespread fame. In an April 2025 interview with People, he described feeling like a working actor more than a celebrity during that time.
I didn’t really feel so famous,
Rudd said.
I was a working actor and I still had a regular job when I was doing this [Nintendo] commercial the first time.
And then as it slowly started to, as I started getting more work, occasionally someone would say, ‘Hey, Clueless!’ or whatever,
he added.
But it wasn’t — nothing felt so different really.
And, you know, I think just the very nature of the time when there was no social media, there was no internet — everything just went by just a little bit slower,
Rudd explained, highlighting how the entertainment landscape then differed greatly from today.
Paul Rudd and Alicia Silverstone Reconnect Years After ‘Clueless’
In March 2019, Paul Rudd reunited with Alicia Silverstone, who portrayed Cher Horowitz in Clueless. Silverstone shared a photo on Instagram capturing their dinner together.
She wrote alongside the image,
Such a sweet reunion last night at dinner with my pal #PaulRudd. I love this guy! I mean he ordered vegan for both of us….. Swoon 🤗
The reunion delighted fans. One commented,
Omg 😍😍😍😍😍 this makes my childhood heart so happy!
Others added playful remarks such as I’m totally buggin’ and Cher and Josh forever ❤️❤️, reflecting the affection viewers still hold for the film’s iconic characters.
