NBC’s hit show, Good Girls, has become one of the most-watched shows on Netflix in 2021. The show’s ability to hold a top spot on the Nielson Streaming Chart is likely due in part to the popularity of the cast.
Good Girls, a dramedy about three suburban Michigan moms who enter a world of organized crime after robbing their local grocery store, stars a few of TV’s most recognizable actresses. Who can forget Christina Hendricks after her performance as the fabulous Joan Holloway on Mad Men? Or Ruby Hill’s iconic role as “treat-yo-self” Donna Meagle on Parks and Recreation?
While you may recognize these actors from your Netflix feed, here are ten interesting facts about the Good Girls cast you’ll be surprised by.
10 Ruby Hill Used To Work As A Chemist
Prior to her comedy debut on Parks and Recreation, Ruby Hill worked at GlaxoSmithKline, a pharmaceutical company in North Carolina. Simultaneously, she started to break into the local standup comedy scene at her University. After graduating pre-med, she decided to ditch the lab coat and enter the entertainment industry. While a loss for pharmaceutical science, her success as a comedic actress is a big win for TV.
9 Christina Hendricks' Agency Fired Her For Accepting 'Mad Men' Role
For Christina Hendricks, accepting the iconic role of Joan Holloway was a career gamble. In an interview with The Guardian, Hendricks explains that she fell in love with the Mad Men pilot, yet her agency wasn’t so smitten. Despite their pushback, she accepted the part and was promptly was dropped as a client by her agency. Luckily, her choice to make a big career swing paid off, as Joan Holloway remains a groundbreaking female character for the episodic drama.
8 Mae Whitman Was The Voice For Katara In 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'
As the daughter of a professional voice actress, Mae Whitman got her start in the entertainment business as a voice talent. She’s credited with voicing several characters in video games, movies, and tv shows, including the pivotal nickelodeon cartoon, Avatar: The Last Airbender. Whitman voiced Katara as a teenager, a beloved water-bending superhero that left an impact on a generation.
7 Matthew Lillard Played Shaggy In 'The Scooby-Doo Movie'
Matthew Lillard, who plays the husband of Christina Hendrick’s character on Good Girls, built much of his career playing Shaggy of the Scooby-Doo franchise. His first induction into the role was the 2002 Scooby-Doo film, where he played the beloved live-action Shaggy. He has since voiced Shaggy in over 30 Scooby-Doo films and TV shows. While Lillard will always be cherished as Scooby-Doo’s right-hand man, his work on Good Girls has been an interesting departure.
6 Reno Wilson’s First Acting Role Was On The Cosby Show
Reno Wilson, known for being “the good guy” of Good Girls, had his first television gig as a recurring character of The Cosby Show. His portrayal of Howard, the college friend of Theo Huxtable, landed him future roles on hit shows such as Martin, The Prince of Bel-Air, and Scrubs.
5 Lidya Jewett Was Born In Gambella, Ethiopia
Lidya Jewett, who plays Ruby Hill’s daughter on the show, was born near the Ethiopian-Sudan border in Ethiopia. While only 13, she already has an impressive filmography under her belt. She's acted in box-office hits, such as Black Panther, Hidden Figures, and The Darkest Minds. Her role in Good Girls is a fantastic stepping stone for her career.
4 Manny Montana Was A College Athlete Before Sustaining An Injury
Before he was the charming mob boss of Good Girls, Manny Montana was a college athlete at California State University, Sacramento. He received a football scholarship, yet eventually had to quit due to a repeated dislocated shoulder injury. He ended up transferring to Long Beach State where he majored in Journalism and Broadcasting. While no longer an athlete or radio broadcaster, Montana has established a stable career as a dramatic actor.
3 Isaiah Stannard Identifies As A Trans Male
Isaiah Stannard, who plays the trans son of Mae Whitman’s character, also identifies as a trans male. Stannard launched his career in voice acting as a child actor and has now made his way into live-action roles on television. Currently a student at the Professional Performing Arts School in New York, Stannard continues to train as an actor.
2 Rob Heaps Attended A Drama School In Russia
At University, Rob Heaps did a year abroad in St. Petersburg to attend a Russian drama school. While there, he studied the body language of animals to perform and emulate in his drama class. While his pantomiming days are over, Heaps' career as a character actor is only beginning.
1 David Hornsby Wrote And Produced 'It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia'
Outside of his work on Good Girls, David Hornsby was a writer and executive producer of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia. He also starred as one of the show’s more idiosyncratic characters, Rickety Cricket. Hornsby has continued to play bizarre, crooked characters, which has given him a significant fan-base.