Full House Stars Reveal the Surprising Secret Behind Choosing Mary-Kate or Ashley for Each Scene

If the Olsen twins starred in your childhood, can you even trust your own memory? Or were you just seeing double? It’s a wild thought—most of us weren’t even around back in ’87, but somehow Mary-Kate and Ashley are as familiar as the smell of Saturday morning cartoons . These two icons started their TV careers before they could say “You got it, dude,” sharing the role of Michelle Tanner on Full House when most babies are still working out how to do jazz hands . Eight seasons later, and a whirlwind of matching outfits, ice-cream-fueled sibling squabbles, and timeless direct-to-video adventures—we can’t help but ask: how did casting directors decide which twin had to take on the dreaded broccoli-eating scene or who got the Disney parade float? That’s not just a nostalgic itch, it’s pure pop culture curiosity . Dive into the behind-the-scenes tug-of-war, unexpected hacks, and a few unsolved twin mysteries (because honestly, who really remembers if it was Mary-Kate or Ashley on that float?)—right here. LEARN MORE.

I’m aware plenty of you reading this won’t have been alive back in 1987 but you’ll probably still know who Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are.

The famous twins began their acting career at the age of just nine months when they shared the role of Michelle Tanner in the iconic sitcom, Full House.

And they pretty much grew up as kids playing that part, featuring in all eight seasons of the American classic TV show right up until 1995.

Of course, they shared the screen for many other roles too with the likes of It Takes Two, Passport to Paris and Our Lips Are Sealed – how’s that for a dose of nostalgia?

But navigating two kids playing the same role of course comes with challenges as you can’t help but wonder how they picked who did what – and their co-stars have explained it.

They shared the role of Michelle Tanner. (ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

Jodie Sweetin who played sister Stephanie Tanner and Andrea Barber who played Kimmy Gibbler spoke about the Olsen twins sharing the role on their podcast How Rude, Tanneritos.

“When they were little, it was the ice cream scene that they would always squabble over,” Sweetin claimed.

The actor claimed that both Mary-Kate and Ashley ‘both wanted to do it’.

“So they’d have to trade off,” Sweetin continued, “[like] ‘You can do it this time and you can do it this time.’”

Although, there were apparently scenes that caused some issues, like the 1993 episodes that saw the clan head to Disney World for a family holiday.

Stephanie and Michelle got to dress up like Disney princesses and ride a float as part of the theme park’s legendary parade.

Barber said she’s sure Adria Later, Full House’s on-set teacher ‘made it fair’ as they described her as the ‘Michelle wrangler’.

Sweetin played Michelle’s sister, Stephanie. (ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)

“I’m sure there was something equivalent that she offered the other twin that didn’t ride in the float. I don’t know how they decide who gets to go… who’s behaving well that day?” the actor continued.

Mary-Kate and Ashley were six years old at the time of the Disney episodes with a special Snow White costume made.

But Sweetin can’t actually remember for sure which sister it was that ended up riding the float with behind-the-scenes moments suggesting it ended up being Mary-Kate.

Well, no matter how much they may have had to split for Full House, the twins certainly racked up screen time before they both officially indicated their interest to retire as actors in March 2012.

They went on to co-found their luxury fashion brand The Row and co-author Influence.