The Drew Crew member explained that he initially thought that he was “too old” to play someone in high school.

Ross Mathews looks back at his ‘terrible’ *Mean Girls *audition: ‘I’ve never told anyone this’

The Drew Crew member explained that he initially thought that he was "too old" to play someone in high school.

By Emlyn Travis

Emlyn Travis

Emlyn Travis is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2022. Her work has previously appeared on MTV News, Teen Vogue, and NME.

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April 1, 2026 3:05 p.m. ET

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Ross Mathews; Rachel McAdams in 'Mean Girls'. Credit:

Ross Mathews very nearly said one of the most iconic lines in film history: “She doesn’t even go here!”

The *RuPaul’s Drag Race* judge and television personality, 46, revealed that he was asked to audition for the role of Damian in *Mean Girls*, but totally bombed his tryout and didn’t get the part in the end.

“Back in 2002-ish, 2003? I was just on *The Tonight Show* and I got a call saying, ‘Will you audition for this movie for a kid in high school?’ And I was like, ‘I’m too old,’” Mathews explained on Wednesday’s episode of *The Drew Barrymore Show*.

Daniel Franzese, Lizzy Caplan, and Lindsay Lohan in 'Mean Girls'.

Paramount Pictures

He continued, “And they said, ‘Tina Fey kind of had you in mind when she wrote the part of Damian.’ I’ve never told anyone this!"

Mathews’ audition, unfortunately, didn’t earn him any you go, glen cocos. “I was terrible and didn’t get it,” he said, noting that the role ultimately went to Daniel Franzese instead.

Still, he doesn’t have any hard feelings. “It’s a great movie,” Mathews added. “It’s iconic, and I can’t believe I was there at the beginning a little bit.”

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Ross Mathews at the 52nd Daytime Emmy Awards on Oct. 17, 2025.

Jesse Grant/Getty

"And an inspiration, apparently!” host Drew Barrymore exclaimed, to which Mathews replied, “Well, you know, whatever! Hi, Tina Fey! Isn’t that cool?”

Damian is one of the very first friends that new student Cady (Lindsay Lohan) makes after transferring to North Shore High School in Fey’s 2004 teen comedy. Shortly afterward, he and pal Janice (Lizzy Caplan) concoct a plan to have Cady infiltrate the popular clique at school in order to get their revenge on them. Chaos, naturally, ensues.

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The character of Damian was inspired by Fey’s very own high school pal Damian Holbrook, who now works as a senior writer at TV Guide, as well as his older brother Jim.

“It’s almost like my superpower,” Holbrook told local Philadelphia news outlet Billy Penn at WHYY in 2023. “I may not have had a huge impact on the world, but this character has definitely made an impression. He’s been embraced by people.”

*The Drew Barrymore Show* airs weekdays on CBS.

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Source: “EW Comedy”