From Mean Girls to Powerful Women: Catch up with the Iconic Cast Now!

After nearly twenty years since its release, Mean Girls continues to be beloved by both fans and celebrities. With a global revenue of $129 million on a $17 million budget, this 2004 teen movie created unforgettable lines such as "On Wednesdays, we wear pink" and "Is butter a carb?" Additionally, Mean Girls played a significant role in launching the careers of actors Rachel McAdams and Amanda Seyfried.

"I have just worked tirelessly, receiving numerous exciting opportunities and making excellent choices with the support of my incredible team," Seyfried mentioned to the Los Angeles Times in 2013. "Despite all that, I still consider Mean Girls to be my greatest work."

Directed by Mark Waters and written by Tina Fey, based on the book Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman, Mean Girls tells the story of Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan) as she navigates the complexities of the American school system after her family returns to the U.S. from Africa. Early on in her high school journey, she is invited to join The Plastics, a popular girl group led by Regina George (McAdams). However, Cady finds herself in a difficult situation when she falls for Regina's former boyfriend, Aaron Samuels (Jonathan Bennett).

Fey, Lacey Chabert, Lizzy Caplan, Daniel Franzese, Tim Meadows, and Amy Poehler are also featured in the movie.

In a 2018 interview with The New York Times, McAdams expressed her gratitude to Regina George for contributing to her long-lasting career. She specifically thanked Tina Fey and Mark Waters, stating that when she first read the script, she immediately called her agent and pleaded to play any role in the film. At the time, McAdams was at the early stages of her career and had a strong desire to be a part of this ambitious project.

In 2011, a TV film titled Mean Girls 2 was produced as a result of the popularity of the original movie. Fey, the creator of the film, also came up with a Broadway musical version in 2017. Furthermore, Ariana Grande's music video for her song "Thank U, Next" was inspired by Mean Girls, featuring Kris Jenner portraying Poehler's iconic "cool mom" character. In January 2020, Fey announced her plans to adapt the Broadway musical into a major motion picture.

Additionally, the film's immense popularity led to the establishment of "Mean Girls Day," an annual fan-created holiday celebrated every October 3rd. This special day references a famous line spoken by Cady, played by Lohan, about her crush Aaron, played by Bennett. She recalls him asking her on October 3rd, "What day is it?"

In honor of the iconic film, scroll down to see what the cast has been up to since the movie’s 2004 premiere:

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‘Mean Girls’ Cast: Where Are They Now?

After almost twenty years since its release, Mean Girls continues to be adored by both fans and celebrities alike.

Released in 2004, this teen comedy earned a remarkable $129 million worldwide, exceeding expectations from its $17 million budget. The film gave rise to memorable quotes like "On Wednesdays, we wear pink" and "Is butter a carb?" It also played a significant role in launching the careers of Rachel McAdams and Amanda Seyfried, among others.

In 2013, Seyfried shared with the Los Angeles Times that she had worked tirelessly and was fortunate to have encountered various exciting opportunities throughout her career. With the support of her incredible team, she had made wise decisions. However, when reflecting on her body of work, Seyfried still considers Mean Girls to be her finest accomplishment.

Mean Girls, directed by Mark Waters and written by Tina Fey, is based on the book Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman. The film centers around Cady Heron (played by Lindsay Lohan) as she navigates the challenges of the American school system after returning to the U.S. from Africa with her family. Shortly after starting high school, Cady is invited to join The Plastics, a popular girl clique led by Regina George (played by McAdams). However, complications arise when Cady develops feelings for Regina's ex-boyfriend, Aaron Samuels (played by Jonathan Bennett).

Fey, Lacey Chabert, Lizzy Caplan, Daniel Franzese, Tim Meadows, and Amy Poehler are also part of the cast.

McAdams expressed her gratitude to Regina George for extending her career, in an interview with The New York Times in 2018. She credited Tina Fey and Mark Waters for this opportunity. Upon reading the script, McAdams immediately contacted her agent and eagerly expressed her willingness to take on any role in the film. At that time, she was just starting her career and had a deep desire to be a part of this ambitious project.

In 2011, a TV film called Mean Girls 2 was released, following the success of the popular movie. Tina Fey, the creator of Mean Girls, also created a Broadway musical adaptation in 2017. The influence of the movie also extended to Ariana Grande's music video for "Thank U, Next," which featured Kris Jenner reenacting a character from Mean Girls. In January 2020, Fey announced her plans to turn the Mean Girls Broadway musical into a major motion picture.

The film's popularity led to the creation of "Mean Girls Day," a fan-created holiday celebrated every year on October 3rd. This special day pays homage to a memorable line spoken by Lindsay Lohan's character, Cady, about her crush Aaron, played by Jonathan Bennett. Cady recalls him asking her about the date on October 3rd.

In honor of the iconic film, scroll down to see what the cast has been up to since the movie’s 2004 premiere:

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Lindsay Lohan (Cady Heron)

Lohan's film career includes notable roles in Georgia Rule, Herbie Fully Loaded, and I Know Who Killed Me. She also had recurring appearances on Ugly Betty and released two albums, Speak in 2004 and A Little More Personal (Raw) in 2005. However, she became a tabloid magnet due to her partying, substance abuse issues, family drama, and romantic relationships. Lohan has made a recent comeback with projects like the MTV reality series Lindsay Lohan Beach Club and her song "Xanax" released in September 2019. In 2019, she briefly served as a judge on the Australian version of The Masked Singer and launched a new business venture called #BeYourOwnBoss in September 2020. Lohan returned to acting in Netflix's Falling for Christmas, which premiered in November 2022.

After her success in Mean Girls, Lohan has had several high-profile romances. Notably, she had an on-and-off relationship with Samantha Ronson from 2008 to 2009 and was briefly engaged to Egor Tarabasov in 2016. Lohan got engaged to businessman Bader Shammas in November 2021 and tied the knot in July 2022. In March 2023, Lohan revealed that she and Shammas were expecting their first child together. Their baby boy, Luai, was welcomed in July 2023.

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Tina Fey (Ms. Norbury)

Fey's career took off after the success of Mean Girls. Despite leaving Saturday Night Live in May 2004, she went on to create and star in the hit series 30 Rock, portraying the character Liz Lemon for seven seasons. This role earned her a Primetime Emmy Award. Alongside her television work, Fey also appeared in several movies, including Baby Mama, Date Night, Sisters, and Wine Country. In addition, she expanded her creative endeavors by creating and producing projects under her production company, Little Stranger, such as Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Busy Tonight. Fey also showcased her writing skills by publishing her memoir, Bossypants, in 2011.

Her involvement with the Broadway adaptation of Mean Girls began in August 2018 and lasted until March 2021, when the production was forced to halt due to the coronavirus pandemic. In January 2020, it was announced that a filmed adaptation of the Broadway show was in the works. Fey continued to make waves in the television industry with the creation of Peacock's Girls5eva series, which premiered in May 2021. Additionally, she made a brief cameo appearance in the Hulu series Only Murders in the Building, alongside Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez. This episode aired in September 2021.

Fey shares daughters Alice and Penelope with husband Jeff Richmond.

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Rachel McAdams (Regina George)

2004 marked a significant year for McAdams as she not only starred in the popular film Mean Girls but also secured a memorable role alongside Ryan Gosling in The Notebook. She went on to feature in various blockbuster movies including Wedding Crashers, The Vow, Game Night, and Doctor Strange. Additionally, she showcased her talent on the second season of HBO's True Detective in 2015, and received her first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in 2016 for her role in Spotlight.

In 2018, McAdams joyfully welcomed her first child with her partner Jamie Linden. The couple then announced their much-anticipated second child in August 2020. However, it wasn't until May 2022 that the actress subtly disclosed the birth of their daughter.

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Amanda Seyfried (Karen Smith)

Seyfried's career includes notable roles in television and film. She gained recognition for her appearances on the acclaimed HBO drama Big Love, which ran from 2006 to 2011, as well as her recurring role on the third season of Twin Peaks in 2017. Additionally, she has starred in prominent films such as the Mamma Mia! franchise, Jennifer's Body, Dear John, Les Misérables, and Ted 2. In 2013, Seyfried was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, alongside the cast of Les Misérables. Her outstanding work in the film Mank earned her a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the 2021 Oscars. Continuing her success, she won her first Emmy Award in the following year for her lead role as Elizabeth Holmes in the limited series or movie The Dropout.

Seyfried married Thomas Sadoski in 2017, following relationships with Dominic Cooper and Justin Long. Soon after their private wedding ceremony, she became a mother to their daughter, Nina. In September 2020, they happily added a son to their family.

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Lacey Chabert (Gretchen Wieners)

Following her role in Mean Girls, Chabert has enjoyed a consistent career and has appeared in over 15 Hallmark movies, such as My Secret Valentine and Christmas in Rome. Additionally, she has provided her voice for characters in animated shows like Justice League Action, Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny, and Transformers: Rescue Bots.

In 2013, Chabert married David Nehdar, her fellow Party of Five alum. The couple joyfully welcomed their daughter, Julia, in 2016.

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Lizzy Caplan (Janis Ian)

Caplan achieved success in the world of television by securing roles in popular shows such as True Blood, The Class, New Girl, and Party Down. Her most notable television performance was as Virginia Johnson on Masters of Sex from 2013 to 2016, and she later took on the leading role in the second season of Castle Rock in 2019. In addition to her television work, she has also appeared in a number of films including Cloverfield, Now You See Me 2, Allied, and The Interview.

Caplan notably dated Matthew Perry from 2006 to 2012 and went on to wed actor Tom Riley in 2017.

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Jonathan Bennett (Aaron Samuels)

Bennett has showcased his talent in various movies and TV shows including The Haunting of Sharon Tate, Do Over, Awkward, and Hit the Floor. He has not limited himself to acting and has ventured into other endeavors such as competing on Dancing with the Stars' 19th season in 2014 and hosting the Food Network's Cake Wars from 2015 to 2017. In addition, he has paid homage to his role in Mean Girls by co-writing a cookbook titled The Burn Cook Book in 2018 and reprising his character in Ariana Grande's "Thank U, Next" music video in 2019. His ventures continued into the year 2019 as he competed on Celebrity Big Brother and began co-hosting Fetch Me a Date with Dorothy Wang on Facebook Watch. In exciting news, Hallmark announced in September 2022 that Bennett would be starring in their first LGBTQ+-led holiday film titled The Holiday Sitter.

Moving onto his personal life, Bennett made a significant announcement in November 2020 revealing his engagement to Jaymes Vaughn, whom he had been dating for four years. Their relationship journey culminated in their marriage in March 2022.

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Daniel Franzese (Damian)

Following his role in Mean Girls, he ventured into the realm of television. Notably, he made guest appearances on hit shows such as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, GLOW, and Party Down. Furthermore, he graced screens in Electric City, Recovery Road, and Conviction. In 2013, he took on the lead role in a one-man show titled I've Never Really Made the Kind of Money to Become a Mess, while also delving into the world of art curation.

Franzese proposed to his boyfriend Joseph Bradley Phillips in 2016 after two years of dating, but they called it quits in 2018.

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Tim Meadows (Mr. Duvall)

After Mean Girls, Meadows has starred in a number of films including Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Semi-Pro, and Grown Ups 2. Additionally, he has delivered noteworthy performances on popular television shows such as Schooled, The Goldbergs, Son of Zorn, and Marry Me. Furthermore, his voice talents have been featured on Bob's Burgers and BoJack Horseman.

Meadows is a father to two sons, Isaiah and Julian, whom he shares with his ex-wife, Michelle Taylor.

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Amy Poehler (Mrs. George)

Pohler's star power continued to soar as she starred in a number of films, including Blades of Glory, Baby Mama, and The House. She gained recognition for her memorable portrayal of Leslie Knope on the hit TV show Parks and Recreation from 2009 to 2015, earning a Golden Globe for her performance in 2014. Pohler also lent her voice to a prominent character on the animated series Duncanville and has served as a producer on shows like Broad City and Difficult People. In 2019, she made her directorial debut with the film Wine Country, in which she also took on a leading role. Additionally, Pohler showcased her writing talent with the release of her memoir, Yes Please, in 2014.

Poehler's marriage to Will Arnett lasted from 2003 to 2013, during which they welcomed their sons Archie and Abel. Following their divorce, she had a relationship with Nick Kroll from 2013 to 2015, and later briefly dated attorney Benjamin Graf between 2017 and 2018.

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Rajiv Surendra (Kevin Gnapoor)

Following his role in Mean Girls, Surendra's last onscreen appearance was in a short film called 6 ft. in 7 min. in 2005. In 2016, he authored a memoir titled The Elephants in My Backyard, which earned him the Kobo Emerging Writer Prize in 2017. Currently residing in New York City, he has successfully established himself as an artist.

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Ana Gasteyer (Cady’s Mom)

Gasteyer has had notable roles on various television shows including Suburgatory, Lady Dynamite, People of Earth, and The Goldbergs. Additionally, she has appeared in films such as Wine Country, Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2, and Adam. In 2019, Gasteyer competed on The Masked Singer as The Tree, ultimately finishing in sixth place. Apart from her work in TV and film, she has also showcased her talent in theater, starring in the Broadway productions of The Royal Family and Girl Crazy in 2009, and A New Brain in 2015.

Since 1996, Gasteyer has been happily married to Charlie McKittrick. They have a daughter named Frances and a son named Ulysses.

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Neil Flynn (Cady’s Dad)

Flynn's portrayal of the janitor on Scrubs continued until its final season in 2010. In 2009, he took on the major TV role of Mike Heck in The Middle, which concluded after nine seasons in 2018. Flynn has also made appearances in movies like Hoot and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and has guest-starred on shows including Joey and Abby's. Additionally, he has lent his voice to characters in animated series such as Buzz Lightyear of Star Command and Bob's Burgers.