Fans of the animated sitcom Family Guy may be surprised to learn that Mila Kunis, the voice synonymous with Meg Griffin, wasn’t always the actress behind the character. In fact, in the show’s inaugural season, Meg was voiced by Lacey Chabert. This casting tidbit often piques the curiosity of viewers, leading to questions about why the change occurred and what happened to the original Meg voice actor. While Family Guy initially garnered a dedicated fanbase, its early seasons faced fluctuating ratings, resulting in its cancellation in 2002. However, word-of-mouth propelled the show’s popularity, leading to impressive DVD sales and ultimately, its revival in 2005. Since then, Family Guy has enjoyed enduring success, meaning for many viewers, Mila Kunis is the only voice they’ve ever known for Meg.
Interestingly, both Chabert and Kunis are not the first choices for Meg Griffin. Cree Summer was initially cast and began recording for the role in season one. However, she was replaced before the season aired. Lacey Chabert, known for Mean Girls and Party of Five, then stepped in to voice Meg for the first season. Starting in the second season, with the episode “Da Boom,” Mila Kunis took over, cementing her place as the definitive Family Guy Meg Voice. This begs the question: what prompted Lacey Chabert’s departure from a show that would become a long-running hit?
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Why Lacey Chabert Left the Family Guy Meg Voice Role
The reason for Lacey Chabert’s exit from Family Guy is refreshingly straightforward: there was no behind-the-scenes drama. During her time voicing Meg in season one, Chabert was balancing her voice work with her studies and her role in the television series Party of Five. Faced with a demanding schedule, she made the decision to step away from Family Guy to prioritize her other commitments. Seth MacFarlane, the creator of Family Guy, has also confirmed the amicable nature of Chabert’s departure, stating there were no conflicts or issues. Adding to the unusual circumstances, a contractual detail meant that Chabert was not credited for her contribution as the Meg voice family guy fans heard in the initial season. This lack of recognition may have also played a role in her decision to move on.
The casting change has even become fodder for Family Guy‘s signature meta-humor. In the season 10 episode “Back To The Pilot,” Brian and Stewie travel back in time to the show’s very first episode. In this episode, Lacey Chabert’s voice is deliberately used for Meg, creating a humorous nod to the character’s voice evolution. While Chabert’s performance was well-received, Mila Kunis has become so intrinsically linked to Meg Griffin that it’s difficult for many fans to imagine anyone else in the role.
Lacey Chabert’s Career After Family Guy
Contrary to any rumors, Lacey Chabert’s departure from Family Guy did not signal a retreat from acting. In fact, leaving the family guy meg voice role proved to be no impediment to a thriving career in both voice acting and live-action roles. While she may not be a constant fixture in tabloid headlines, Chabert is a recognizable face, particularly for her portrayal of Gretchen Wieners in the iconic 2004 film Mean Girls, alongside Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, and Amanda Seyfried.
Beyond Family Guy, Chabert has lent her voice to numerous animated projects, including the beloved Eliza Thornberry in Nickelodeon’s The Wild Thornberrys and Kaycee in the Bratz franchise. In live-action, she starred in the 2006 remake of Black Christmas. Comic book fans might recognize her voice as Gwen Stacy in the animated series The Spectacular Spider-Man. More recently, Chabert has become a staple of television movies, particularly on the Hallmark Channel and Lifetime network, demonstrating a consistent and successful career on the small screen.
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How Mila Kunis’s Voice Shaped Meg Griffin
There’s a strong argument to be made that Mila Kunis taking over as the voice of Meg in Family Guy was a pivotal moment that propelled the show to greater comedic heights. Kunis’s portrayal introduced a new dimension to Meg, paving the way for some of the show’s most memorable and often dark humor. In Family Guy season 1, Meg’s character is noticeably different from the Meg of later seasons. While she still embodies teenage awkwardness, the character truly blossomed into the self-deprecating, often-abused member of the Griffin family we know today as the series progressed through its impressive 21 seasons. This transformation is largely attributed to Kunis’s vocal performance, which brought a unique blend of vulnerability and sardonic wit to Meg.
While Lacey Chabert laid the groundwork for the character, Mila Kunis undeniably solidified Meg Griffin’s identity and enhanced the dynamic of the entire Griffin family. Furthermore, Kunis’s established working relationship with Seth MacFarlane, evidenced by her role in his live-action movie Ted alongside Mark Wahlberg, suggests a comfortable and collaborative environment that benefits her voice work on Family Guy. The addition of Mila Kunis as the family guy meg voice actor was a significant turning point, contributing to the show’s enduring appeal, even as Lacey Chabert continued to flourish in her own successful acting career.
