Two decades after starring in the millennial classic A Cinderella Story, Hilary Duff has opened up about her genuine fear of co-star Jennifer Coolidge during filming, describing the experience as both impressive and intimidating for her teenage self.
The Intimidating On-Set Dynamic
At just 15 years old during production of the 2004 modern retelling of Cinderella, Duff was already a nationally recognised child star from her lead role in the Disney Channel sitcom Lizzie McGuire. Meanwhile, Coolidge had already established herself in comedy classics like American Pie and Legally Blonde, though her Emmy-winning resurgence in The White Lotus was still years away.
In a recent interview with Variety, Duff confessed that Coolidge's convincing performance as the evil stepmother left her genuinely frightened. "She just goes there in such a big way that it was really impressive and slightly intimidating as a teenager," Duff revealed about Coolidge's committed approach to the scenery-chewing villain role.
A Teenager's Reality Check
The actress recalled specific moments where she had to consciously remind herself that they were merely playing characters. "And she was mean to me, so it was a little scary, 'cause I was only like 15 and she was just mean to me 'cause she's my evil stepmother," Duff explained, demonstrating her alarmed reaction at the time by pulling a frightened face and taking deep breaths.
Duff described her internal monologue during those intense scenes: "I had to be like: 'You're filming a movie. You're filming a movie.'" This behind-the-scenes revelation highlights the powerful impact of Coolidge's method acting approach, which clearly transcended the typical performer dynamic to genuinely affect her younger co-star.
Reflections on Disney Channel Legacy
The disclosure about her A Cinderella Story experience comes alongside Duff's reflections on her encounters with fellow Disney Channel child stars Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato. Despite preceding both actresses into the Disney spotlight through Lizzie McGuire in 2001, Duff revealed she never felt compelled to mentor the younger performers.
Speaking on the Therapuss podcast with Jake Shane, Duff recalled: "I can't remember exactly but I know at some point, Selena and Demi both approached me at certain things, like years and years and years ago." She described both as "really lovely, and really sweet and kind" during their interactions, but clarified she never took on a guidance role.
Duff expressed gratitude for this decision, noting: "Thank goodness, because it's been so fun to watch all of them pave the way and watch the journey. It's been insane. What a ride for all of the Disney people."
The actress has been promoting her new song Mature, which she describes as a conversation between her present and younger self. When asked if she would choose the child star path again, Duff confirmed she would, though with some reservations about missing aspects of conventional education and college experiences.
Duff's candid reflections provide a fascinating glimpse into the realities of early fame and the lasting impressions created by powerful on-screen dynamics, even twenty years after the cameras stopped rolling on this beloved teen classic.
