Marguerite Perrin, famously known as the "God Warrior" from the reality TV show Trading Spouses, experienced an unexpected turn in her career when she auditioned for the crime drama Gone Baby Gone. Directed by Ben Affleck, the film marked an intriguing chapter in Perrin's life. The audition, set up by Miramax, took place in Los Angeles, where Perrin found herself reading the script on a plane ride to the city.
Upon arrival at the audition, Perrin felt out of place and initially unaware of the script's content. Despite this, Ben Affleck welcomed her warmly, introducing her to the people present in the room, including his brother, Casey Affleck. Perrin compared her experience in the audition room to the famous painting "The Last Supper," describing it as "this big, long table and all these people in suits."
“This is probably my most embarrassing moment of my entire life. It looked like The Last Supper, this big, long table and all these people in suits,” – Marguerite Perrin
As the audition proceeded, Perrin faced questions about her time on Trading Spouses. To her surprise, Ben Affleck informed her that his then-wife, Jennifer Garner, was a fan of the show.
“He said, ‘Jennifer said that if I acted up, she was going to bring you in my household to straighten me up!'" – Marguerite Perrin
Despite the warm reception, Perrin ultimately decided against taking the part in Gone Baby Gone. She expressed discomfort with her character's association with a pedophile. The decision allowed her to spend several months at home with her daughter Ashley. Tragically, Ashley was killed in a car accident in September 2007.
Reflecting on her decision not to take the role, Perrin stated:
“I would’ve been filming the whole summer. I didn’t take that part, which was really hard to do. I stayed home and relaxed," – Marguerite Perrin
Perrin's daughter recognized Casey Affleck in the holding room during the audition process. After passing on the part, Perrin received a call from one of Ben Affleck's associates, indicating that Affleck wanted her to join the cast. However, she acknowledged making a fool of herself during the audition.
“I’m standing there like a goober, not knowing to come in, and he’s going, ‘Come on!’ I was like, 'You didn’t call me the MF’er!' And he goes, ‘I was trying to be polite. I don’t want to call the God Warrior that!'" – Marguerite Perrin
Currently, Perrin runs a dance studio in Louisiana and is involved in filming an upcoming mystery TV project that centers around her family life. She reflects on her past decisions with a sense of gratitude and faith.
“I would’ve missed that. God orchestrates things in different ways.” – Marguerite Perrin
