You probably think of Mila Kunis and immediately see Jackie Burkhart’s colorful vests or the gritty, feathered intensity of Black Swan. It makes sense. Those were the roles that defined her. But if you dig back into the mid-90s, before the "circle" in the basement was even a thing, Mila was navigating the sugary-sweet, moralistic world of the Camden family.
Yeah, she was on 7th Heaven.
Most fans forget this happened. It wasn't just a blink-and-you-miss-it cameo, either. She actually recurred as a character named Ashley during the show’s very first season. Honestly, seeing her in such a wholesome environment feels a little surreal now, especially knowing how her career exploded shortly after.
The "Bad Girl" Archetype in Glenoak
When Mila Kunis stepped onto the set of 7th Heaven in 1996, she was only 13 years old. This was a full year before she famously lied to the producers of That '70s Show about her age. Back then, she wasn't a superstar; she was a working child actress trying to find her niche.
She played Ashley, a friend of Lucy Camden (Beverley Mitchell).
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If you remember the show's vibe, everything was very "lessons learned by the dinner table." Ashley was basically the antithesis of that. She was the "bad influence." In a 2022 career breakdown with Vanity Fair, Mila actually laughed about why she kept getting cast in these roles. She noted that in the 90s, there was this weird, unspoken rule in casting: if you had dark hair and big eyes, you were the "edgy" girl. The blondes got to be the "all-American" sweethearts.
Since Mila was a brunette with a bit of a raspy voice even then, she became the go-to choice for characters who were just a little bit troublesome.
What Actually Happened to Ashley?
Mila appeared in four episodes total. It wasn't a massive character arc, but she left an impression. Her main job was to provide a foil for Lucy, who was always desperate to be "cool" but too inherently good to actually pull it off.
Ashley was the one who pushed boundaries. She was the girl who talked about boys and breaking rules while the Camdens were busy worrying about chores or church functions.
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- Season 1, Episode 2: "Family Secrets"
- Season 1, Episode 5: "The Power of 5"
- Season 1, Episode 12: "The Hello Goodbye"
- Season 1, Episode 15: "Choosing Your Battles"
In "Family Secrets," we see the start of this dynamic. It’s classic 90s teen drama. Ashley represents the "outside world" that the Camden kids were constantly trying to navigate. Watching those episodes now, you can already see the comedic timing that would later make Jackie Burkhart an icon. She had a certain sharpness that didn't quite fit the soft-lit, melodic piano atmosphere of 7th Heaven.
She was arguably too "cool" for Glenoak.
Why This Role Matters for Her Legacy
It’s easy to dismiss early guest spots as "paycheck roles." But for Mila, 7th Heaven was part of a crucial bridge. It sat right between her days on Baywatch (where she played two different characters in two different years) and her breakout on Fox.
Without these recurring spots on WB hits, she might not have had the industry visibility to land that fateful audition for That '70s Show.
There’s also the irony of her age. While she was playing a peer to Beverley Mitchell, who is actually about two and a half years older than her, Mila was already showing a level of maturity—or at least a convincing imitation of it—that made her seem older. This probably gave her the confidence to walk into the That '70s Show room and tell them she was "going to be 18" without mentioning it was five years away.
The Casting Stigma Mila Faced
During that Vanity Fair interview, Mila pointed out something pretty insightful about her time on shows like 7th Heaven. She felt typecast because of her "ethnic" look (her words). At the time, the industry was very rigid.
"I clearly wasn't the relatable all-American gal," she said.
She ended up playing the "scapegoat" or the "mean girl" because she didn't fit the "Goldie Hawn" mold that was still dominating teen TV in the mid-90s. It’s a fascinating look at how Hollywood has—and hasn't—changed. Today, her look is considered the gold standard for a leading lady, but in 1996, she was the "bad girl" who might lead Lucy Camden astray.
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Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Actors
If you’re a fan of Mila Kunis or an aspiring actor, there’s actually a lot to learn from her 7th Heaven era.
- Watch the early work: If you can find the Season 1 DVD or a streaming version of these episodes, pay attention to her eyes. Even at 13, she knew how to use them to convey a lot more than the script was giving her.
- Embrace the "type": Mila didn't fight against being the "edgy" girl. She leaned into it, perfected it, and eventually used that same energy to win over audiences as Jackie Burkhart.
- Longevity is about the "grind": Before the movies and the fame, she was doing the work. 7th Heaven, Nick Freno: Licensed Teacher, Walker, Texas Ranger—she was building a resume one guest spot at a time.
Next time someone mentions Mila’s start, you can remind them that before the 70s, she was just a kid trying to survive the 90s in a house with seven children and a very concerned minister.
Check out the first season of 7th Heaven on platforms like Paramount+ or Pluto TV to see a future A-lister in the making.