While it can be difficult to imagine anyone else playing our favorite roommates, the original vision for The Golden Girls was far different than what audiences would come to expect.

According to one of the show’s stars, Rue McClanahan, she was originally expected to audition for the role of Rose.

“When they sent me the script for The Golden Girls, they had me in mind for Rose,” said McClanahan during an interview with The Associated Press. “But I took to Blanche. They were thinking of Betty White for Blanche.”

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It was an opinion shared by co-star Bea Arthur, who was worried that the casting would cause the actors to fall into old habits. “Bea called and said if I played Rose and Betty played Blanche, it would be like doing Maude again with Sue Ann Nivens,” said the actor. “I said it looked like we were going to switch roles.”

Luckily, the director of the pilot, Jay Sandrich, saw McClanahan’s vision and asked her to read for Blanche instead. “It would have worked the other way, but it wouldn’t have been as interesting.”

Oddly enough, McClanahan’s dream role was one she wasn’t considered for: Sophia Petrillo

“It’s the best-written role and the funniest,” said the actor. “I would love to have an opportunity to play that kind of role. But I wouldn’t have a snowball’s chance. When I heard Estelle had the role, I was excited because I’d seen her in Torch Song Trilogy.”