The Huge Lie That Launched Mila Kunis’s Career: How Jackie Burkhart Changed TV History

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Numerous TV series have attempted to portray adolescent life, with some opting for emotional intensity and others aiming for humor. Among them, a comedic sitcom broadcast on Fox called “That ’70s Show” belongs to the latter. The majority of episodes unfold in the basement of the Forman household located in Point Place, Wisconsin. Eric Forman, played by Topher Grace, is a 17-year-old resident of this basement, along with his friends Michael Kelso (Ashton Kutcher), Steven Hyde (Danny Masterson), a foreign exchange student referred to as Fez (Wilmer Valderrama), and his neighbor crush Donna Pinciotti (Laura Prepon). The character Jackie Burkhart (Mila Kunis) is another regular visitor to the basement. Initially, she’s seen as a pesky annoyance, but eventually she finds her place among the group of friends.

The character Jackie from “That ’70s Show” significantly shaped the series, as her ability to convey disapproval through simple changes in tone and body language was remarkable. Donna often sought Jackie’s advice on love matters, despite it sometimes being outdated or misguided. Over the course of the show, Jackie dated not only Michael but also Hyde and Fez, adding an intriguing layer to her character. Despite having potential to be irritating, Mila Kunis brought a charm and humor to the role that made Jackie endearing. It’s astonishing to consider that Kunis wasn’t legally old enough for the part when she was cast as Jackie Burkhart. In actuality, Kunis, who was just fourteen at the time of casting, lied about her age to the creators, Mark Brazill and Bonnie and Terry Turner, claiming she was eighteen, thus altering TV history forever.

The Creators of That ’70s Show Already Loved Mila Kunis

The show, “That ’70s Show,” was specifically seeking older teenagers for auditions. However, this didn’t deter Mila Kunis who tried out when she was only fourteen years old. At the time, she was just beginning her acting career and had previously appeared in shows like “Days of Our Lives,” “Hudson Street,” “Baywatch,” and “7th Heaven.” She also starred in the reboot of “Piranha” that received negative critical reviews in 1995. It was “That ’70s Show” that ultimately propelled her to fame.

Mila Kunis hails from Ukraine, but at the age of seven, she relocated to Los Angeles. Two years after settling in, her father learned about an acting workshop through a radio broadcast. With this encouragement from her father, she found the motivation needed, though she seized control of her career from that point forward. Determined and undeterred by her age, Kunis landed a significant role – as Jackie Burkhart on That ’70s Show.

As a devoted cinephile, I found myself captivated by Mila Kunis’ insights on her audition journey for “That ’70s Show,” as she shared them in an engaging interview with Vanity Fair. She elucidated the intricate details of the process that eventually led to her winning role.

It’s been circulating that I might have given a false account of my age. Let me set the record straight: I did lie about my age. Yes, I did. However, when I attended the producer’s network call and needed to sign a contract for the job, there was an asterisk in my contract for ‘studio teacher.’ When they asked what it meant, I mentioned casually that it was just a footnote saying, “By the way, I’m 14.” But when you speak with the creators, they said they were smitten with me at that point and my age didn’t matter to them.

Mila Kunis’ unique personality played a significant role in securing her role as Jackie in That ’70s Show. She brought authenticity to the character that impressed the creators. Once they learned she was only fourteen, they were careful about creating a suitable work environment for her. As it turned out, this was advantageous because Jackie became one of the show’s most memorable characters. On set, Kunis admired and took guidance from her older costars who acted as positive role models for her, and she has never done drugs due to the fact that no one on the set was using them.

Jackie’s character was consistently portrayed in a way that was suitable for a 14-year-old, avoiding overly bold or mature themes. In fact, there’s an episode from the first season where she explicitly tells Donna that she and Michael have never had sexual relations. This scene was meant to suggest that he was pretending they had, in an attempt to appear cool among his peers. Generally speaking, the writers made a conscious effort to keep Jackie’s character age-appropriate given the show’s content.

Jackie Burkhart Is Still Mila Kunis’s Most Iconic Role to Date

The television series “That ’70s Show” spanned eight seasons and 200 episodes, making it Fox’s second longest-running live action sitcom after “Married with Children.” It’s difficult not to become well-known after spending so much time in a single role, and Mila Kunis, who debuted as Jackie Burkhart in 1998, has certainly achieved fame as a result. Despite her numerous subsequent accomplishments, she will always be associated with this character. Jackie is one of the most memorable characters from “That ’70s Show,” and she delivers many hilarious moments throughout the series. It’s not all bad to have such an enduring legacy in acting.

In the fifth Halloween episode, the team finds out that Jackie’s middle name is Beulah, causing her, who values her appearance and image, to feel quite embarrassed. This situation is humorously portrayed due to her reaction. In a different episode from season four, Jackie grants Donna “24 hours of Jackie Time,” which includes an overnight stay. Jackie, known for her nonchalant attitude, remarks that books are for prisoners. Jackie Burkhart, throughout the series, remained unapologetic about her personality, even telling Eric’s mom Kitty (Debra Jo Rupp) in season seven:

Mrs Forman, I’m a beautiful girl with a shrill and demanding voice. I’m pretty hard to ignore.

The self-assured, self-aware, and unapologetically secure demeanor Jackie displayed on TV in the 2000s was a breath of fresh air, and it continues to be remarkable even after all these years. Unlike being just a “girlfriend,” Jackie was given substantial roles and responsibilities in each episode of That ’70s Show. Any sitcom could benefit from emulating this approach when portraying humorous female characters.

That ’70s Show Wouldn’t be the Same Without Jackie Burkhart

Milk Kunis has been facing criticism recently due to her support for co-star Danny Masterson amidst serious accusations. However, it’s hard to argue against her success as an actress, given her impressive career. After gaining fame on That ’70s Show, Kunis went on to voice Meg Griffin in the long-running series Family Guy, which also aired on Fox. She also starred in comedies such as Bad Moms, psychological thrillers like Black Swan, and action films like The Book of Eli. Kunis has proven her versatility across various genres, but she truly excels in comedic roles.

Rewriting the sentence: If Mila Kunis hadn’t lied about her age, That ’70s Show might have taken a different direction. A significant gap exists between a fourteen-year-old and an eighteen-year-old in terms of emotional maturity, but her portrayal suggests she was more mature than her character’s actual age. The creators avoided objectifying or excessively sexualizing her character, allowing her to blend seamlessly into the group of friends by coming off as a relatable teenager with great comedic skills.

In 2023, Netflix premiered the sequel series, That ’90s Show, delighting fans with the return of Jackie Burkhart. Mila Kunis reprised her role as Jay Kelso’s mother, seamlessly slipping back into it as if no years had passed. Unfortunately, the show only ran for two seasons due to low ratings, but the positive side is that Jackie Burkhart continues to thrive in That ’70s Show, still cracking audiences up just as much today as it did in the early 2000s. Fans old and new can now enjoy the entire series on Peacock.

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2025-07-06 00:36