Michael Urie Remembers Brittany Murphy’s Kindness During Filming of ‘Uptown Girls’ as Cut Role Comes Back Into Spotlight

Actor Michael Urie is looking back at an early moment in his career and sharing warm memories of late actress Brittany Murphy from the set of the 2003 film Uptown Girls. Even though his role never made it to the final cut, After the Hunt Star Urie says the experience left a lasting mark on him, mainly because of Murphy’s gentle and caring nature during filming.

In a recent video interview shared by Entertainment Weekly, Michael Urie spoke openly about working on the movie, calling it one of his very first acting jobs. At the time, he was just starting out and had not appeared in many major projects. Michael Urie revealed that he played a pig walker, which he jokingly described as a dog walker who also had to handle a pig in one scene.

According to Urie, the scene involved five dogs and one pig, making it both memorable and unusual. However, despite filming the scene, his part was later removed from the final version of the movie. Still, Urie said he remains part of the film’s deleted scenes on the DVD and even receives small residual payments, which he laughed about during the interview.

What stood out most to Michael Urie was his interaction with Brittany Murphy, who starred in the film as Molly, a struggling but kind-hearted nanny. The movie also featured Dakota Fanning as Ray, a sharp and strong-willed eight-year-old girl. Michael Urie described Murphy as “so sweet” and said she was amazing as an actor.

He recalled a moment when Murphy insisted they had met before, even though Urie was sure they had not. He said the situation felt adorable and touching, showing how friendly and open Murphy was, even to someone with a very small role. Later, at the film’s wrap party, Murphy approached him again and shared that she had mentioned his character in another scene, even after his role had been cut.

Brittany Murphy passed away on December 20, 2009, at the age of 32, after collapsing at her home in Hollywood Hills. Her sudden death shocked fans and the film industry alike. Years later, her co-stars continue to speak fondly of her spirit and talent.

In a 2020 appearance on Watch What Happens Live, Dakota Fanning also remembered Murphy as playful, fun, and full of light, saying she made every filming day special. These shared memories highlight the lasting impact Murphy had on those who worked with her.