Marguerite Perrin, the unforgettable "Trading Spouses" icon—better known as the "God Warrior"—is no stranger to dramatic moments. Fans remember her fiery reaction to a letter allocating $50,000 to her family on the hit reality show, but what many don’t know is that she once turned down a major Hollywood opportunity. In an exclusive interview with Entertainment Weekly, Perrin revealed that she auditioned for Ben Affleck’s 2007 directorial debut, Gone Baby Gone, and even received an offer for a role. However, she ultimately declined.
A Surprise Hollywood Audition
At the height of her Trading Spouses fame, Perrin was approached by Miramax with an unexpected opportunity: an audition for Gone Baby Gone, a gritty crime drama following a Boston detective, played by Casey Affleck, as he searches for a missing child. On the plane to Los Angeles, Perrin read through the script and discovered she was being considered for the role of Roberta Trett—a small yet significant supporting character.
Upon arriving at the audition, Perrin’s daughter immediately spotted Casey Affleck in the waiting room. But it was what happened next that truly took her by surprise. When the audition room doors swung open, standing before her was none other than Ben Affleck himself. “Oh my God, I’m starstruck! I didn’t think I was going to see you,” Perrin recalls exclaiming. She describes the audition space as something straight out of a classic painting, comparing it to The Last Supper—a long table filled with industry professionals in suits.
A Moment of Starstruck Embarrassment
“This is probably my most embarrassing moment of my entire life,” Perrin admits with a laugh. As Ben Affleck introduced her to the panel, he rattled off their impressive credentials—one even linked to Braveheart. Overwhelmed, she suddenly realized she didn’t know the script as well as she should have. The pressure was on.
Then came the unexpected revelation: Ben’s then-wife, Jennifer Garner, was a fan of Trading Spouses! “He told me, ‘Jennifer said that if I acted up, she was going to bring you in my household to straighten me up!’” Perrin recalls, laughing. That lighthearted moment helped ease the tension, but what followed was even more memorable.
The Audition That Almost Was
As the audition began, Perrin braced herself. According to the script, Affleck was supposed to deliver a line that included a rather intense curse word. However, he hesitated. “I’m standing there like a goober, not knowing to come in, and he’s going, ‘Come on!’” Perrin says. Confused, she pointed out, “You didn’t call me the MF’er!” To which Affleck responded, “I was trying to be polite. I don’t want to call the God Warrior that!”
Despite what she describes as making an “idiot” of herself, Perrin later received a call from one of Affleck’s associates. The message? Ben wanted her in the movie. However, after careful consideration, she declined the role. Her reason? The character she was supposed to play, Roberta Trett, was associated with Corwin Earle, a pedophile played by actor Matthew Maher. Perrin, true to her religious convictions, didn’t feel comfortable being part of a film that included such themes.
“I told them not to discuss money because I didn’t want to be influencing audiences with a film that included elements of child molestation,” she explains. It was a tough decision, but one she ultimately stood by.
A Decision That Changed Everything
Turning down a Hollywood role wasn’t easy, especially considering the fame and exposure it could have brought her. But looking back, Perrin believes everything happened for a reason. Had she accepted the part, she would have been filming all summer. Instead, she stayed home and spent precious time with her daughter, Ashley. Tragically, Ashley was killed in a car accident in September 2007.
“I would’ve missed that,” Perrin reflects. “God orchestrates things in different ways.”
Hollywood Moved Forward
While Gone Baby Gone didn’t feature Perrin, it still went on to become a critically acclaimed film. Actress Amy Ryan, who played another supporting role, earned an Oscar nomination for her performance. More importantly, the movie marked a major turning point in Ben Affleck’s career as a director. He would later go on to helm films like The Town and Argo, the latter of which won an Academy Award for Best Picture.
Even though Perrin didn’t step into the world of Hollywood, her life remains as colorful and eventful as ever. She now runs a dance studio in Louisiana and is currently filming a mystery TV project centered around her family life. One thing’s for sure: Whether in reality TV, Hollywood auditions, or her personal journey, the God Warrior always makes an impact.
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