Mean GirlsSecrets in New Book About the Making of 2004 Film: From $10K Wigs to Twerking at Cast Parties

Mar. 15, 2025

Lindsay Lohan, Amanda Seyfried, Lacey Chabert and Rachel McAdams inMean Girls(2004).Photo: CBS via Getty Images

The limit to fun facts aboutMean Girlsdoes not exist.

The unauthorizedMean Girlsmaking-of book is billed as “part love letter, part cultural commentary,” which brings up little-known secrets about theTina Fey-penned project — like how it was originally titledHomeschooled.

Read on for some of the groolest discoveries featured inSo Fetch, which isavailable now wherever books are sold.

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Courtesy of Dey Street Books / HarperCollins Publishers

Blake Lively, Kristen Stewart, Megan Fox and more were considered forMean Girlsroles

The Plastics and key players of North Shore High almost looked very different. Of course, the iconic roles ultimately went toLindsay Lohanas Cady,Rachel McAdamsas Regina,Amanda Seyfriedas Karen,Lacey Chabertas Gretchen,Lizzy Caplanas Janis, andDaniel Franzeseas Damian.

But according to the book, which includes interviews with casting director Marci Liroff,Ashley Tisdale,Vanessa HudgensandMary Elizabeth Winsteadall auditioned for Gretchen.

When Lohan, 37, expressed early on that she’d rather take the Regina role, the filmmakers considered alternative actresses for Cady, includingKristen Stewart,Mae WhitmanandMichelle Trachtenberg, according to the book.

Kristen Stewart, Blake Lively, Megan Fox.Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty; Nina Westervelt/Variety via Getty; Presley Ann/Getty

Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty; Nina Westervelt/Variety via Getty; Presley Ann/Getty

Actresses likeHaylie Duff,Kate Mara,Blake LivelyandLeighton Meestertried out for the now-iconic role of Karen, as did Lohan’sConfessions of a Teenage Drama QueencostarMegan Fox.

Meanwhile,America FerreraandKat Denningscircled for Janis, the outcast who’s out for revenge against teen queen Regina.

Penn Badgley,Jared PadaleckiandMax Minghellaall auditioned to play heartthrob Aaron Samuels. That role went toJonathan Bennett— after another unnamed actor was cut from the role immediately after a cast table read.

Rachel McAdams inMean Girls(2004).Paramount/courtesy Everett

Rachel McAdams' Regina wig cost $10,000

Also, Chabert, 41, “wore a three-quarters wig to make her big hair happen, pumping up her naturally fine strands,” the book details. Her gossipy Gretchen famously sported a hairdo “so big” because “it’s full of secrets.”

“Hair was important [on the movie],” says Hartwick in the book. “I was never so busy.”

Lindsay Lohan, Lizzy Caplan and Daniel Franzese inMean Girls(2004).CBS via Getty Images

CBS via Getty Images

The Glen Coco actor got the part after stumbling onto the set

So Fetchoffers insight into how many of the background actors landed their parts, especially those memorable one-liners that have forever cemented them in pop-culture history. It also gets into their experiences making the movie — and the viral online attention they’ve gotten in the years since.

“No one on theMean Girlsproduction team knew his name. He had signed no contract to be in the film. He had just shown up,” Armstrong writes.

The actor, then 19, had already auditioned for the film and didn’t make the cut. Reale went to the set to visit friends, when directorMark Waterssaw him randomly and said, “I’m gonna get you in the next scene. And you’re gonna have a name and everything. It’s gonna be great.”

Amy Poehler atMean GirlsNew York City premiere in 2004.Theo Wargo/WireImage

Theo Wargo/WireImage

TheMean Girlswrap party featured twerking and karaoke

To celebrate the completion of filming, the cast and crew let loose at a big party. Some of the cast members recalled memories from the event inSoFetch.

Jill Morrison, who had a small part as the Crying Girl, says in the book that she did shots with Fey, 53, and costarAmy Poehler. “Morrison danced with them, freaking out when she saw Poehler do a little twerking move like she’d done during aSaturday Night Livesketch once,” reads a line in the book.

Thecast of the new 2024Mean Girlsmovie musicalsimilarly had a blast at their wrap party.Auli’i Cravalho, the new Janis, told PEOPLE they all were “having a great time, kind of rocking on the dance floor” at the celebration, which was “so much fun.”

Damian actorJaquel Spiveyadded, “To have all of us in a room having some drinks, listening to some Beyoncé, shaking a little ass, was such a fun time.”

Tina Fey and Lindsay Lohan at the New York CityMean Girlspremiere in 2004.Theo Wargo/WireImage

Mean Girls narrowly avoided an R rating

When handing down its ratings for the original film, the Motion Picture Association had some misgivings about their ability to award it a teen-friendly rating.

Fey and the filmmakers had to tweak some jokes to appease the ratings board, in order to get the PG-13 rating that would help target a younger audience. For example, instead of a rumor that a character masturbated with a frozen hot dog, they had to go with “made out” with a hot dog.

In another instance, an insult of “vag odor” was swapped with “fat whore.” And the moment when a boy asked Cady whether her “muffin” is “buttered” was originally, “We’re taking a lunchtime survey: Is your cherry popped?”

So Fetchauthor Jennifer Keishin Armstrong.A. Jesse Jiryu Davis

A. Jesse Jiryu Davis

The team pushed back on one request though. Fey “wrote an impassioned letter to the board explaining why she thought the cut was sexist,” in regards to the MPAA wanting the “wide-set vagina” moment removed, the book reports.

“They were going to fight this one. That line was too good to lose, especially with the frozen hot dog already nixed,” Armstrong says in the book. “… It worked. The board reversed its decision on that line, and that line alone.”

Mean Girlsultimately received a PG-13 rating for “sexual content, language and some teen partying.” (Thenew movie-musical version is PG-13for “sexual material, strong language and teen drinking.")

source: people.com