Sabrina The Teenage Witch: How A Bad Breakup Led To Caroline Rhea As Aunt Hilda
"Sabrina the Teenage Witch" was a staple in '90s comedy, running for seven seasons and airing 163 episodes. In addition to the eponymous witch (Melissa Joan Hart) — who often got into trouble using her powers — the series featured several memorable characters, such as Salem the Cat (Nick Bakay), and Sabrina's aunts, Zelda (Beth Broderick) and Hilda (Caroline Rhea).
Caroline Rhea has an interesting story about how she became part of the "Sabrina" family. During the series reunion hosted by People in 2017, Rhea was one of the cast members that talked about their time on the sitcom. She told People that she had a horrible boyfriend during the time "Sabrina" was being developed.
"I had just gotten back from this horrible trip to Hawaii with the boyfriend, and the trip was so bad that we broke up before the pictures were developed," Rhea said. Creator Nell Scovell gave her a call and told her about Hilda, her witchiness, and the fact that she had a man trapped in a ring because he didn't love her. Rhea immediately signed on.
Caroline Rhea related to Hilda
Caroline Rhea thought Hilda's past was really awesome. "Because I really thought it was, like, a documentary. Like that would be a skill that I would get immediately." Being able to relate to Hilda in such a personal way made it easier for Rhea to bring her to life. It also must have been cathartic to play a woman who trapped an old flame, considering that she was also reeling from a bad relationship.
Throughout the series, Hilda is unlucky in love. In the beginning, she, like Rhea, is suffering from a breakup. Though she and Drell (Penn Jillette) try again, she fails the Test of True Love and ends the relationship for good. Hilda also has an on-again, off-again romance with Sabrina's principal, Willard Kraft (Martin Mull). Though nothing comes out of their courtship, Hilda becomes jealous when he starts dating her sister, Zelda. In the end, Hilda is able to find true love with Will (Douglas Sills), a witch she meets in The Other Realm. The two get married in the season 6 episode, "I Fall to Pieces,"
Though Rhea started playing Hilda because of their similar situations, she was able to experience her character grow, love, and become much more than a way to move on from a rather horrible breakup.