It took him aback and was completely out of character for the actress and the role, but she was cast by the day’s end
It's not unheard of for actors and actresses to land some of their most famous roles in unconventional ways. Naomi Watts, for example, earned her most famous role in Mullholland Drive when David Lynch saw her headshot and liked what he saw. Larry Hagman won the part of J.R. Ewing when producers of Dallas saw him in an old movie and liked a certain mannerism of his that fit their vision of the ruthless character.