Elisa Donovan, the actress who became a household name in the 1990s for her portrayal of the iconic mean girl Amber Mariens in Clueless, made a stylish return to the red carpet this week. The star, now 54, attended the premiere of the new film The Housemaid in Los Angeles on Monday evening.
From Beverly Hills to Brunch: Donovan's '90s Domination
Elisa Donovan's breakthrough role came in the 1995 high school comedy classic Clueless, where she starred alongside Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy, Paul Rudd, and Jeremy Sisto. Her performance as the spoiled and sarcastic Amber cemented her status as a rising star. She later reprised the role for the television spin-off series, which ran from 1996 to 1999.
Her success in Clueless was swiftly followed by other notable parts. She played Ginger LaMonica on the hit drama Beverly Hills, 90210 and later joined the cast of the popular sitcom Sabrina the Teenage Witch as Morgan Cavanaugh from 2000 until 2003. Donovan also appeared in films like A Night at the Roxbury and The Dog Who Saved Christmas.
Life Beyond the '90s: Memoirs, Music Videos, and Motherhood
Donovan's career continued to diversify in the following decades. She had a guest role on NCIS in 2006, starred in several web series, and even competed on the culinary challenge show Worst Cooks in America. In a memorable pop culture moment, she featured as Joey Fatone's love interest in *NSYNC's 1999 music video for Thinking of You (I Drive Myself Crazy).
On a personal note, Elisa Donovan married Charlie Bigelow in 2012, and the couple have a daughter, Scarlett Avery Bigelow. She also authored a memoir, Wake Me When You Leave, which explores her grief following her father's death from cancer and its impact on her life and career.
Reflecting on Clueless and Co-Stars
In a 2021 interview, Donovan revealed that she based her portrayal of Amber on "some girls I knew from high school, who weren't very nice to me!". She also shared fond memories of filming the famous debate scene with Alicia Silverstone, noting an unscripted mispronunciation that director Amy Heckerling loved so much it stayed in the final cut.
She spoke warmly but sadly of her late co-star Brittany Murphy, who died in 2009, describing her as a "magical" person with a youthful, creative energy. "She just was precious. It was terribly sad," Donovan reflected.
Stepping out at the premiere of The Housemaid, which stars Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, the Hollywood veteran proved her timeless style, looking elegant in an emerald green gown. Her appearance serves as a reminder of a beloved era of film and television, and the enduring legacy of one of its most memorable characters.
