Before landing the role of Rita, Benz came very close to playing Dexter's sister.
It’s hard to believe, but it’s been nearly two decades since the original Dexter series made its debut on Showtime. Premiering in 2006, Dexter instantly became a game-changer for the network, putting Showtime on the map as a serious player in the world of premium television. The show ran for eight seasons until 2013, and to this day, it continues to spark conversations, fan theories, and of course anticipation for more episodes.
But before the iconic series came to life, and long before Michael C. Hall sliced his way into pop culture history, there was a crucial casting process. One of the lesser-known facts is that Julie Benz, who ultimately played Dexter’s girlfriend (and later wife) Rita Morgan, initially auditioned for a completely different role: Debra Morgan, Dexter’s foul-mouthed sister, a role that would go on to define Jennifer Carpenter’s career.
Note: The interview has been edited slightly for coherence, without altering the meaning.
Julie Benz Auditioned for Both Rita and Debra Morgan
In a recent interview with Happy Horror Time, Julie Benz opened up about her Dexter casting journey, revealing that she was initially considered for both Debra and Rita. Interestingly, she had her heart set on playing Debra.
“When I was sent the audition, I read the script and thought, Oh my God, this is the kind of show I would love to watch! They wanted me to read for both Deb and Rita,” Benz explained.“I looked at both roles and thought, I am SO Deb. I worked incredibly hard on Debra’s character—I changed how I walked and talked. I even practiced swearing because I love swear words, and I thought it would be awesome to use them on TV. I didn’t put much effort into Rita at all.”
“You’re Our Rita”
After a series of auditions, Julie eventually got in front of executive producer James Manos Jr.—and that’s when everything changed.
“As soon as I walked in, James said, Oh my God, you’re our Rita. And I was like, No! No! No! I prepared both roles—I want to read for Deb first! But he wouldn’t let me. He insisted I was Rita.I hadn’t really worked on Rita’s role. I knew the lines, but I hadn’t spent nearly as much time preparing. It taught me a really important lesson as an actor: I wasn’t Deb. I was Rita.”
A Role That Felt Natural
Julie reflected on the experience as a turning point in her career.
“Trying to be Deb was like forcing a square peg into a round hole. It wasn’t a natural fit, no matter how much effort I put in. But playing Rita—it just fit. I didn’t have to fake anything or overthink it. I was enough as I was.That said, I still had to jump through hoops. I had to test for the studio and network twice. The first time, I was told my hair looked too shiny and that I appeared too put together to play a struggling single mom. So they asked me to come back with no makeup and a more natural look. I took that note to heart.”
What If Julie Benz Had Played Debra Morgan?
It’s fascinating to imagine an alternate reality where Julie Benz played Debra instead of Rita. While Benz brought warmth and vulnerability to Rita, Jennifer Carpenter’s raw, emotionally charged performance as Deb became one of Dexter’s most unforgettable elements.
Would Julie Benz have nailed Debra Morgan’s signature grit and unfiltered intensity? Or was the casting exactly as it should’ve been?
Could you picture Julie Benz as Debra Morgan?