Angourie Rice
Stars in
Film
Mean Girls
Photography Tyler Patrick Kenny
Creative Director Deborah Ferguson
Interview by Laasya Gadiyaram
The Plastics are back. Tina Fey’s upcoming rendition of Mean Girls introduces an entirely new generation to the pink politics of North Shore High School. As Cady Heron, Angourie Rice gives a new life to a familiar role. We talk about being a young woman in Hollywood, the evolution of Mean Girls, and the Barbie Revolution.
Jacket & Skirt: Moschino R24, Heels: Chanel
Top & Pants: Kenzo S24, Earring: BonBonWhims
Congratulations on Mean Girls! How has the experience been so far?
It has been really fun! My favorite part about the press tour has been reuniting with the cast. It’s so great to see everyone and celebrate the culmination of our hard work.
Before Mean Girls, you worked on another quintessential teenage movie—Spiderman. How did it compare?
Spider-Man and Mean Girls were similar in that there was a lot of anticipation and secrecy surrounding them. Working with Marvel taught me how to keep secrets! But apart from that, I feel the projects are really different. Spider-Man is about saving the world, while Mean Girls is about saving your reputation, your friendships, your social life. I love how, in Mean Girls, the stakes feel life-or-death, but they’re just all the normal problems teenagers go through in high school.
Jacket, Dress & Jewelry: Pre Spring-Summer CHANEL
What was it like to join such an established franchise as a new face?
It felt like a big responsibility to take on this role, not only to the fans, but also to myself. Mean Girls was also such a huge part of my childhood and adolescence, so I was anxious to make it good as a performer, and as a fan. It was a huge challenge and a really exciting opportunity to take on.
You’ve been working in the industry for at least a decade. How have you seen it grow and change?
The change I’m really able to observe is the change in myself. When I was younger, I was much more of a people pleaser, and I wasn’t very aware of my own wants or needs as a person or artist. I’ve been lucky to work with some really strong women, and through watching them, I’ve learned to be stronger myself.
Trench Coat & Pants: 3.1 Phillip Lim, Mules: Vintage
Dress: Kenzo S24, Heels: Maile, Socks: Vintage, Sunglasses: Lowercase
What does it feel like to work on movies so definitive of the teenage experience as a young person yourself?
I think there’s a reason why we keep telling stories about teenagers. It’s such a vivid, formative time in your life. Every emotion is heightened and intensified, and those experiences stick with you throughout your life. So it feels very important for me to be a part of something like Mean Girls, which I think captures the teenage experience so well. Cady starts out awkward and naïve, then becomes a plastic, then has to turn around and apologize to everyone she hurt. It’s a story of change and transformation, which is exactly what happens throughout teenagerhood.
You starred in the widely acclaimed BLACK MIRROR, and the soundtrack for that episode is still something I listen to now. What was that experience like and how do you think soundtracks interact with their movies themselves?
Haha I’m so glad you liked the soundtrack for that episode! A friend once sent me a video of him at a club and they were playing “On a Roll” by Ashley O (aka Miley)! Soundtracks are so important in a movie – think of Jaws, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Jurassic Park… music tells the audience more about the characters and story. Cady’s songs are filled with hopeful, major chords, while Regina George’s songs are often in a minor key with ominous bass underneath. I can’t wait for people to see how music is incorporated into this new Mean Girls movie.
Jacket: Vintage Vivienne Westwood, Dress: Chloe R24
Trench Coat: 3.1 Phillip Lim, Mules: vintage
You also worked with Kate Winslet in Mare of Easttown, and Jennifer Garner in The Last Thing He Told Me. What’s it like working across from such icons as a young actress yourself?
I am constantly inspired by the people I work with. I learnt so much from both Kate and Jen as they were also producers on those shows, as well as actors. They were both so understanding of how a film set runs, and so considerate of everyone’s jobs and needs. They really made an effort to make the on set environment warm, welcoming, and an easy place to work. That makes such a difference, particularly on shows like Mare of Eastown and The Last Thing He Told Me, which had dark themes.
Like millions of girls around the world, I was introduced to Mean Girls at a middle school sleepover in my friend’s basement. What’s it like taking this story and turning it into something new?
It’s a big responsibility! But I really trusted Tina’s vision, and the vision of our directors Art and Sam. They had so many amazing ideas about how to make this a truly new and exciting film experience. They came into it with the goal that no matter how many times you’ve seen the original Mean Girls, this new movie will surprise you in some way. While also staying true to the original, of course!
Denim Jacket & Jeans: 3.1 Phillip Lim, Heels: CHANEL
Dress: Kenzo S24, Heels: Maile, Socks: Vintage, Sunglasses: Lowercase
What about Cady did you want to change? What about her did you want to keep the same?
For me the character always begins with the script. And with Tina writing this movie, I trusted everything that was in there, because it’s her original story, her original characters. So I didn’t think anything about this character needed changing, I just knew that my portrayal would naturally be a little bit different, because I’m a different actor. I prepared to play Cady like I would prepare for any other role: I annotated the script, wrote some character notes, and mapped her character arc. Committing to my usual process helped me release any worries I had about the character being too similar or too different. I just trusted the process.
This is the third iteration of one story. How do you think the new Mean Girls compares to the Broadway musical? Or to the original?
I think it’s the perfect blend of both, and has new and fun additions, too. You can absolutely see this movie without having ever seen Mean Girls before in your life. But for those who love the original movie and the Broadway musical, you’ll recognize all the homages and easter eggs that are in this new movie.
Top & Pants: Kenzo S24, Earring: BonBonWhims
From the trailers and teasers we’ve seen so far, the new Mean Girls seems self-aware and self-referential. What else can we expect?
It’s hard to make a movie so in the zeitgeist and not somehow reference that within the movie itself. Tina’s humor has always been incisive and clever, so you can expect some really new, fun jokes.
Tina Fey!! What was it like working with such an industry legend?
It was incredible! I admire Tina so much. She’s such a detail-oriented writer and comedian. She had considered every line in the script, and if I had a question about anything, she’d have an answer. I also loved how she’d write multiple jokes for one scene, and we’d try them all out to see which was the funniest. I love doing that.
Trench Coat: 3.1 Phillip Lim
Denim Jacket & Jeans: 3.1 Phillip Lim
At its core, Mean Girls is a story about female friendship. What do you want the new generation of Mean Girls fans to take away from this movie?
I love how this movie is about a hero becoming a villain, and then becoming a hero again. Cady apologizes for what she did, and changes her behavior to make up for it. It takes so much bravery to admit to your friends that you hurt them, and to commit to doing better in the future. I love that message. Cady realizes her real friendships with Janis and Damian are so important, and she should hold onto that.
In the wake of the Barbie take-over, Mean Girls and movies like it comment on what it means to be a girl. What does it mean to you to work on this movie as a young woman yourself?
I’m so grateful to be a part of a film like Mean Girls which means so much to so many women, and that importance is being recognized. Stories about women shouldn’t be trivialized or dismissed. Things that are fun and pink and glittery are still meaningful.
Trench Coat: 3.1 Phillip Lim
Top & Pants: Kenzo S24, Earring: BonBonWhims
Photography
Tyler Patrick Kenny
Creative Director & Fashion Editor
Deborah Ferguson
Interview
Laasya Gadiyaram
Makeup
Kirin Bhatty @A-frameagency
Hair
Rena Calhoun @A-Frameagency
Web Layout
Naveed Shakoor
Thank you
Lede Company & Paramount Studios