Surprising Secrets from the Set of Little House on the Prairie

Alison Arngrim first auditioned for the role of Laura Ingalls, hoping to play the kindhearted lead. When that didn’t work out, she tried again for the part of Mary Ingalls, but she wasn’t quite the right fit for that character either.

Everything changed when she read for Nellie Oleson — the spoiled, sharp-tongued rival. Her performance was so perfect that producers hired her on the spot. What began as a few failed auditions turned into one of television’s most unforgettable villain roles.