There are countless movies aimed at the teen market that come out every year, and quite frankly, the majority of them are forgettable. They follow a certain formula, the dialogue often isn’t that intelligent, the actors are often cast for their looks rather than their acting talent, and they pretty much just blend into one another. It takes a lot to stand out in the world of teen comedies – but Mean Girls definitely did.

It was released in 2004, something that can seem unbelievable because it’s still so, so beloved. Everyone is still trying to make fetch happen, iconic lines from the film are still quoted and placed on mugs and pillows, and it’s basically become a 2000s cult classic.

Perhaps it’s because Tina Fey’s script was a smart, funny look at strange world of high school and the delicate balance in the social world there. Perhaps it’s just that they hired exactly the right cast. Perhaps it just came at exactly the right time, when teens were looking for a hit. Whatever it is, everyone still loves Mean Girls – I mean, it’s practically a staple of any girls’ night in.

However, it’s been over a decade since the film was released. So, what are the cast up to now? Why don't we find out!

13 Lindsay Lohan (Cady Heron)

Mean Girls pretty much put Lindsay Lohan on the map. Sure, she stole hearts as a child actor in the remake of The Parent Trap, and she was a rising star snagging sweet-as-pie roles in films like Freaky Friday and Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen. Lohan wasn’t able to capitalize on her post-Mean Girls career boost, though, as the period after that was one filled with rehab and courtrooms as the formerly sweet Disney star battled with substance abuse issues. Within the past few years, she snagged the lead in the cheesy television movie Liz & Dick, as well as a few guest starring roles on television shows. Everyone predicted the curvy redhead would be the next big thing, but her personal demons have derailed her professional journey – perhaps the next decade will be her time to shine.

12 Rachel McAdams (Regina George)

What has this Canadian cutie been doing since playing Queen of the Plastics Regina George? The question is more like what hasn’t she been doing. McAdams followed up her Mean Girls success with the crazy successful The Notebook. Then, she took on film roles in various genres including the raunchy comedy Wedding Crashers, Woody Allen’s Midnight In Paris, dramas like The Time Traveller’s Wife and Southpaw, rom coms like The Vow, and even a television role on True Detective. Her most recent role was a meaty starring gig in Spotlight, a film about a newspaper uncovering a huge scandal that generated a lot of buzz.

11 Amanda Seyfried (Karen Smith)

Okay, let’s be honest – out of all the core four girls in the Mean Girls cast, Amanda Seyfried was probably the last one audiences would predict to be a superstar. I mean, as a character, Karen was a fantastic addition to the film, but she could have been played by pretty much any hot girl. However, after the movie was released, Seyfried started getting leading roles in films like Mamma Mia!, Jennifer’s Body, Letters to Juliet, Lovelace and more. She also starred on the television show Big Love for nearly its entire run. Nowadays, in between filming movies, she mostly just spends time with her adorable dog Finn.

10 Lacey Chabert (Gretchen Wieners)

Many of Chabert’s big roles actually came before Mean Girls, when she was a regular on the television series Party of Five and provided the voice of the main character in The Wild Thornberrys. Since playing the role of the toaster strudel heiress, Chabert has kept a fairly low profile, appearing in predominantly made-for-television movies or snagging roles in under the radar flicks – no giant blockbusters for this girl. She also recently announced that she and husband David Nehdar will be welcoming a child – so fetch.

9 Tina Fey (Ms. Norbury)

Before Mean Girls, Tina Fey spent the majority of her time in the writing room for the hit show Saturday Night Live, making a few appearances in front of the camera. She wrote the screenplay for Mean Girls, and took a small role as Ms. Norbury – and the rest, as they say, is history. She went on to write and star in the hit comedy 30 Rock, rock hosting gigs with Amy Poehler, break into the Netflix scene with Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and much more. On paper, Fey hasn’t actually been in a huge amount of movies, but she’s constantly on the tip of everyone’s tongue because she basically does it all. I mean, she’s the definition of a #girlboss.

8 Tim Meadows (Principal Duvall)

The frustrated and weary Principal Duvall, played by comedian Tim Meadows, wasn’t one of the most memorable characters in Mean Girls, but he certainly had his moments – and he was one of the only ones who opted to reprise his role in the sequel, Mean Girls 2. Meadows has mostly stayed out of the public eye, getting small roles here and there, the longest being his stint voicing Mike the Mailman on the animated series Bob’s Burgers. Let’s be honest – when your fellow cast mates include people like Tina Fey, it’s kind of tough to compete. Meadows had a successful run on SNL prior to scoring the role in the teen flick, but since then, he’s been keeping things pretty low key.

7 Amy Poehler (Mrs. George)

Before she was Regina George’s cool mom, Amy Poehler was Tina Fey’s partner in crime on Saturday Night Live. Then, she went on to another hugely successful comedy, playing the upbeat and ambitious Leslie Knope on Parks and Recreation. She also found time to start a girl power project called Smart Girls at the Party, and pen a memoir, titled Yes Please. Basically, we just wish Amy Poehler was cool mom to all. We’d like to share a cocktail, kick back on the couch in some sweats, and get her advice on how to be a strong, powerful woman 24/7, 365.

 

6 Lizzy Caplan (Janis Ian)

If you see Lizzy Caplan in any role outside of Mean Girls, chances are you might not even recognize her – the crazy hair and baggy clothes she rocked in the film are totally unlike the look she normally has, which is streamlined and super chic. However, we’re pretty sure Janis Ian would fully approve of the career choices that Caplan has made. Apart from a guest starring role on the popular television show New Girl, Caplan has mainly worked on independent films with a bit of an edge, like Save The Date and Bachelorette. She’s also recently gained many fans in her role as Virginia Johnson in Masters of Sex.

5 Daniel Franzese (Damian)

Ah, Damian – the man who sang Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful” with more emotion than the pop princess herself. After Mean Girls, Franzese went on to snag roles in several smaller, lesser known films. He also – get this – curated several art shows, generally focusing on works with pop culture or celebrity culture links. He also used his platform as the beloved gay character, Damian, to take a big step in his own life – he came out to the public by penning a letter to Damian and the impact that playing the character had on him. We totally didn’t tear up when we read it. Not at all.

4 Jonathan Bennett (Aaron Samuels)

Since Mean Girls, Jonathan Bennett has mostly just been wandering around asking girls if his hair looks sexy pushed back. Kidding. He’s stayed in Hollywood, taking on small roles in made-for-tv or straight-to-DVD films, as well as modeling gigs here and there. He also appeared on Dancing With The Stars and as a host for Food Network’s Cake Wars. Oh, and he’s a certified spin instructor. While he still seems to be actively seeking out acting and hosting gigs, who knows – maybe someday there will be an Aaron Samuels spin empire. We can only dream.

3 Rajiv Surendra (Kevin Gnapoor)

Who could forget the rapping mathlete Kevin G? Well, he hasn’t exactly been starring in blockbuster hits on the silver screen, so what exactly has Rajiv Surendra, the man behind the legend, been doing since Mean Girls? Running a calligraphy business. We’re totally serious. The mathlete is apparently a killer artist who designs signs for trendy boutiques and restaurants in the Toronto area, which sounds like one of the coolest jobs ever. Apparently, he’s always been a big art lover, even majoring in art history, and used to copy old letters when he was a child to get his lettering skills up to par. Adorable.

2 Ana Gasteyer (Cadys Mom)

Okay, in Mean Girls, the main focus was definitely on the younger members of the cast, but that doesn’t mean we don’t want to know what’s up with Cady Heron’s world-travelling mother. Ana Gasteyer, who played Mrs. Heron, has continued to work in the entertainment industry. She co-starred on the sitcom Suburgatory, had a guest role on Curb Your Enthusiasm, was tapped to be a spokeswoman for Weight Watchers, and even released an album of jazz standards. This triple threat combined her acting and singing abilities in January of this year, when she played the role of Principal McGee in the live musical adaptation of the classic film, Grease: Live!

1 Neil Flynn (Cady’s Dad)

Since portraying Cady Heron’s father on Mean Girls, Flynn has continued to act, snagging small roles in a few films over the years as well as guest starring gigs in a variety of television shows. Sure, he may not be the leading man in a multi-million dollar blockbuster action flick. However, he’s worked steadily in Hollywood, something that’s not always easy to do. He also managed to score a decent, steady television gig – since 2009, he’s played Mike Heck on the sitcom The Middle.

Sources: nydailynews.com

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