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Jennette McCurdy wanted to befriend her iCarly co-star Miranda Cosgrove, even if she had to lie about having an AIM account. Hereā€™s what the Sam & Cat actor said about her relationship with Cosgrove in the 2022 memoir Iā€™m Glad My Mom Died.

Jennette McCurdy starred as Sam Puckett on the Nickelodeon original series, ā€˜iCarlyā€™

Jennette McCurdy attends Magnolia Pictures' 'Damsel' Premiere at ArcLight Hollywood
Jennette McCurdy attends Magnolia Picturesā€™ ā€˜Damselā€™ Premiere at ArcLight Hollywood | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

McCurdy enjoyed a cameo on Malcolm in the Middle, appearing in True Jackson, VP, Victorious, and Whatā€™s Next for Sarah? The former actor is best known for her appearance on the Nickelodeon comedy television shows iCarly and Sam & Cat.

McCurdyā€™s Iā€™m Glad My Mom Died detailed her life on and off-screen. That includes insight into her relationship with Cosgrove, the star of iCarly who became close friends with McCurdy thanks to AOL AIM.

Miranda Cosgrove and Jennette McCurdyā€™s relationship blossomed over AIM (aka AOL Instant Messager)Ā Ā 

Before they were acting for the series, Cosgrove sent McCurdy a gift basket with candy and a gift card for a local movie theater. Later, Cosgrove asked her iCarly cast member if she had AIM (or AOL Instant Messenger).Ā 

Thinking Cosgrove meant throwing things, McCurdy replied. ā€œnot really.ā€ After Cosgrove clarified that she was referring to the chat service, the young actor said she did have AIM ā€” even though she didnā€™t. (McCurdy was determined to befriend the actor, she explained.)

ā€œAs soon as I got home that day, I had [my brother, Marcus] sign me up for an account,ā€ McCurdy wrote. ā€œOver AIM, our friendship blossomed. Miranda and I spent hours talking every day on it.ā€Ā 

ā€œSometimes, if Mom walked past and asked me what I was doing, Iā€™d tell her I was talking to Miranda, but most of the time, Iā€™d shrink the AIM text bubble, lie, and say I was doing schoolworkā€¦,ā€ she added. ā€œShe didnā€™t question me. Sheā€™d leave the room, and then Iā€™d pull the text bubble back up and start laughing.ā€Ā 

McCurdy said that even though her co-star appeared ā€œshy and quietā€ in person, she had ā€œa distinct and hilarious personality through her written words.ā€

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Jennette McCurdyā€™s Mom: ā€˜iCarlyā€™ Star Opens up About Healing From Physical and Emotional Abuse, Saying ā€˜I Finally Feel Freeā€™

Are Jennette McCurdy and Miranda Cosgrove still friends?

After being on iCarly for almost three years, McCurdy wrote that her friendship with Cosgrove had ā€œbeen a source of camaraderie and emotional support,ā€ saying that their friendship is ā€œdifferent and special.ā€Ā 

ā€œWe Skype on the weekends and see movies at ArcLight after work,ā€ she added.

In the same memoir, McCurdy offered insight into her experience working with Nickelodeon on Sam & Cat, detailing her experience with co-star Ariana Grande. McCurdy and Cosgrove remained close friends, even if McCurdy decided not to return for the iCarly reboot, citing mental health reasons.Ā 

Iā€™m Glad My Mom Died by McCurdy is available for purchase digitally and physically, thanks to book retailers like Walmart, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.