The Vampire Diaries Character Sarah Michelle Gellar Turned Down (& Why)
The Vampire Diaries co-creator Kevin Williamson wanted Sarah Michelle Gellar to play the role of Rose-Marie, but the actress turned it down. Based on the book series by L. J. Smith, The Vampire Diaries ran for eight seasons from 2009-2017 and was one of The CW's most popular shows. The supernatural drama starred Nina Dobrev as Elena Gilbert, who found herself in the middle of an epic love triangle between Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley) and his older brother Damon (Ian Somerhalder). The Vampire Diaries became the longest-running vampire series to date, beating out both True Blood (2008-2014) and Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003). Despite the show's cult status and devoted fanbase, Williamson failed to lure his most coveted guest star, Sarah Michelle Gellar.
The Walking Dead's Lauren Cohan played Rose-Marie, and the vampire character was introduced in season 2, episode 8, "Rose". She and her best friend Trevor kidnapped Elena, planning to hand her over to Elijah Mikaelson (Daniel Gillies made his Vampire Diaries debut as one of the Original siblings). "Rose" revisits the night Katherine Pierce fled Klaus Mikaelson. In typical Katherine fashion, she used Rose and Trevor to unknowingly turned her into a vampire which aided the Petrova doppelganger (one of The Vampire Diaries five doppelgangers) in her escape. As a result, the twosome was forced to go on the run for 500 years or face Klaus' wrath. Elijah shows Rose mercy, the Salvatores save the girl, and Elena learns that her death is the key to breaking the Hybrid curse.
While Cohan made for a compelling Rose, Williamson originally had Buffy the Vampire star Sarah Michelle Gellar in mind for the part (Williamson wrote 1997's Scream 2 in which Gellar had a small role). During a 2011 interview with Page Six, Williamson said, "Originally me and my pipe dreams had us trying to get Sarah Michelle Gellar for Rose. She was very appreciative but just said no. She was the only stunt casting we’d have ever agreed to." Williamson didn't expand on why Gellar refused his offer, but it's safe to assume the actress wasn't interested in revisiting familiar territory, even if it meant playing a vampire instead of slaying them.
As the seventh and final season of Buffy wrapped, Gellar openly admitted she was happy to finally let her character rest in peace, telling EW in 2003, "Buffy, in this incarnation, is over.” Gellar's appearance on The Vampire Diaries would have undoubtedly been a coup for the show, but it could have possibly tarnished Gellar's Buffy legacy as a feminist icon since the character of Rose doesn't exactly embody female empowerment, spending her immortal life fleeing Klaus. Gellar went on to star in The CW's Ringers (2011-2012), which may have also factored into her decision to pass on The Vampire Diaries. Gellar has continued to appear on the big and small screens, although her breakout gig as Buffy Sommers remains her most memorable.
The character of Rose appears in several more episodes of The Vampire Diaries, helping Elena and the Salvatores gain more information about the elusive Klaus. She even engages in a brief fling with Damon that ends dramatically after a werewolf bites her. Rose's final moments reveal a softer side of Damon, and the scene was a tearjerker. Cohan told EW, "It’s not usually what you expect to get to do when you’re guest-starring on a TV show. I just thought it was such a moving script." In season 3, she returns episode 19, "The Heart of Darkness," as a ghost who weighs in on Elena's burgeoning attraction for the elder Salvatore, offering clues as to why Elena chooses Damon over Stefan.