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How George Clooney Saved Julianna Margulies From Being Killed Off 'ER'

Julianna Margulies recalled how being George Clooney's love interest on 'ER' saved her character from being killed off the soap opera

Juliana Marguiles and George ClooneyGetty Images (2)Margulies, 58, revealed how a near-failed audition led to her reading for the role of Carol Hathaway, who she portrayed on the soap for six seasons from 1994 to 2000, during the Friday, November 8, episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show. The actress began her story by recalling that she had three auditions scheduled for the day, so she arrived early to her ER read – a habit she picked up after growing up with a “hippie, crazy, wonderful mother who was always late.” Susan happened to be in the operating room when Carol was brought in on a gurney, and had put her clipboard in front of her mouth when she said, “She’s braindead” – meaning audience members couldn’t lip-read her words.

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