Celebrating The 55th Anniversary Of ‘I Dream Of Jeannie’: Barbara Eden On Her Iconic Role

“I said, ‘Are you sure they know what I look like? Because I’m a short blonde and certainly not (the) Middle Eastern-type,'” Eden says. Back then, the topic of cultural appropriation was not an issue, not as much as it is today.

Getting pregnant when the show started filming

Some additional issues came up once Eden snagged the role. She and her then-husband, Michael Ansara, had been trying to have a baby for so long and had been unsuccessful. Of course, just as the show’s pilot was in the beginning stages, she learned the news that she was finally pregnant. This is why in the earlier episodes, you may notice that there are no shots below Eden’s waist.

“Suddenly the pilot sold, and the doctor called me the same day and said I was pregnant.” Eden wanted to go and tell the producer, Sidney Sheldon, in person. In jest, he actually was the one who brought up Eden’s pregnancy news. “‘I said, ‘Yes! And I can’t do your show! I’m so sorry!’ But, I was grinning from ear to ear.”

It all ended up working out despite the obstacles