Christine Taylor Was Asked to Lose 10 Pounds for ‘The Brady Bunch Movie’

Christine Taylor, who played Marcia Brady in the 1995 comedy The Brady Bunch Movie, says filmmakers asked her to lose 10 pounds before taking on the role.

Taylor discussed the request this week on the Office Ladies podcast, describing it as a reflection of a very different time in Hollywood. She said she was embarrassed by the request but agreed because she strongly wanted the role.

“I’ll lose 10 pounds,” Taylor recalled thinking.

The actress had been a longtime fan of The Brady Bunch, which originally aired from 1969 to 1974. She watched reruns regularly after school and had previously played Marcia in a stage production.

Taylor said she knew the character so well that she felt the role was made for her. She also had long blonde hair as a child and would imitate Maureen McCormick, who played Marcia in the original series.

During filming, Taylor said she regained the weight, partly because she frequently ate non-fat frozen yogurt. She joked that viewers can notice changes in her appearance because some scenes had to be reshot.

Taylor returned as Marcia in the 1996 sequel, A Very Brady Sequel, which became known for the line “Sure, Jan.”

Despite the weight-loss request, Taylor said her passion for the role outweighed her concerns. “This was made for me,” she recalled thinking.