Greer explained that at the time, she was starting to take on roles as a mother in movies but wasn't ready to commit to the long-term portrayal of "America's mom" on a television series. “In a movie, people see it and then move on, but in a TV show, you’re just the mom,” she said. The idea of playing a mother of three, including a high schooler, felt limiting to her as she was still in her early 30s and enjoying the freedom of working on varied film projects and traveling.
Greer admitted the decision was challenging. "I didn’t even want kids, so I thought, ‘I’m not going to audition for it.’ I wasn’t ready for that phase of my career or life,” she explained.
Modern Family went on to become a massive success, running for 11 seasons and earning 22 Emmy Awards. Although Greer didn’t join the main cast, she did make a guest appearance in the first season as Denise, an ex-girlfriend of Phil Dunphy (Ty Burrell), whose reunion with Phil sparks jealousy in Claire.
Reflecting on her journey, Greer also discussed the pressures of auditioning and her admiration for Julia Roberts, whom she described as her “North Star” for what it means to be a movie star.
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