Former “Vanderpump Rules” star Stassi Schroeder was in the running to play Francie Fak on season 4 of “The Bear,” according to Abby Elliott.
Elliott, who plays Natalie “Sugar” Berzatto on the hit FX series, told Elle that she thought Schroeder would be perfect for the role.
“[Series creator] Chris Storer and I have been having conversations about this since season 2, when the concept of Francie first gets introduced. We were like, “Who is she?” Elliott said. “And we were like, ‘I think she’s kind of like Stassi.’”
Francie Fak had been referenced throughout the show’s past few seasons, as a former friend of Natalie’s who had done something unforgivable to ruin the friendship. The details of the feud were alluded to, but never fully explained.
Elliott actually saw Schroeder at the L.A. Natural History Museum and it seemed like fate. “I was so embarrassed because my kid was having a tantrum and her kid was so well-behaved, and [Storer] was like, ‘This is perfect. This is so Natalie and Francie,’” the actor shared.
Who Ended Up Playing Francie Fak?
While Schroeder may have served as inspiration for Francie Fak’s character, the part ended up going to Oscar-winning actor Brie Larson. “The Bear” is known for its major celebrity guest stars who have included Olivia Coleman, Bob Odenkirk, and John Cena, among others.
According to Elliott, Larson ended up being a great choice and a fun scene partner. “We really hit it off, I think we’re pretty similar, and she’s so funny,” Elliott said of Larson. “We were simpatico from the start, which was so much fun to play.”
Reality TV Also Inspired the Wardrobe Choices
Natalie and Francie’s long-awaited showdown happens at a wedding reception, which means the characters were dressed to the nines. Elliott revealed that it was a reality show that gave her the idea for the characters’ outfits.
“I was watching a reality show with all these women at this wedding in those Hill House nap dresses,” Elliott said. “And I was like, ‘It’d be so funny if [Francie and Natalie] are going at each other in these Little-Bo-Peep pastel dresses.’”
Natalie was decked out in a baby blue prairie dress and Francie wore pale yellow. Both women accessorized their looks with headbands, which Elliott loved. “Everything’s very cute, and then we’re going into this dark drunken backstory,” she shared. “It was my favorite thing to shoot.”
Put that way, it does sound like a scene right out of “Vanderpump Rules.”
