Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Elizabeth Banks were friends for years before she appeared on Modern Family as Sal, Mitchell and Cameron’s wild, hard-partying friend.
A Party Idea
The idea for the role came up at a party shortly after the pilot was filmed. Ferguson and director Jason Winer were both there.
While joking around and having a few drinks, Ferguson and Banks talked about how fun it would be for her to play the couple’s wild friend, the kind of person who shows up and turns any gathering upside down.
From Joke to Script
It could easily have stayed a party joke. Instead, a few weeks later Winer told Ferguson he had written the idea into a script and invited Banks to join the show.
Winer directed the pilot and many early episodes, and he played a big part in shaping the show’s look and tone, so his enthusiasm carried real weight.
A Fan-Favorite Guest
Banks made the most of it. Sal quickly became a fan-favorite guest character, bringing chaotic energy that contrasted perfectly with Mitchell’s uptight personality and gave Cam a partner in crime.
The performance earned her an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series.
A Big Star in a Small Role
Banks was already well known from films like The 40-Year-Old Virgin and the Hunger Games series, where she played Effie Trinket, so landing her for a guest spot was a coup for a young sitcom.
Friends Off Screen
It’s also a reminder of how much of Hollywood runs on friendship. A casual conversation between two old friends turned into a memorable recurring role.
Sometimes the best casting decisions really do happen over drinks.