34 'Clueless' Behind-The-Scenes Facts You Never Knew
Writer/director Amy Heckerling originally pitched Clueless to Twentieth Century Fox as a TV series called No Worries — but the executives thought it "needed more boys".
Even when working on it as a movie, it took awhile to settle on the title Clueless. Before that, Amy Heckerling used the titles I Was A Teenage Teenager and later Clueless in California.
Cher was partially inspired by Jeff Spicoli from Fast Times at Ridgemont High, which Amy Heckerling also directed. She recognised he was the most popular character she'd created and decided that that was because he's "positive", so she wanted to create a lead who was positive and happy — which became Cher.
It was when she was re-working the idea from a TV show to a movie that Amy Heckerling revisited Jane Austen's Emma and realized Cher was basically a modern Emma, and she could base the plot of Clueless on Jane Austen's novel.
When she was writing the script, Amy Heckerling pictured the Beastie Boys' Adam Horovitz as Josh.
Reese Witherspoon, Alicia Witt, Keri Russell, and Tiffani Thiessen all auditioned for the role of Cher — and so did Brittany Murphy, who went on to play Tai.
Ben Affleck and Zach Braff both auditioned for the role of Josh, as did Jeremy Sisto, who got the role of Elton, and Justin Walker, who went on the play Christian.
Before being cast as Josh, Paul Rudd originally asked to read for the role of Murray, not realising the character was black and thinking he was a "white guy who's trying to co-opt black culture". He also read for Christian and Elton before Amy Heckerling suggested he try Josh.
Seth Green — who is Breckin Meyer's best friend — was the other top choice for Breckin's role of Travis.
And Terrence Howard, who is close friends with Donald Faison, was a top contender for the role of Murray.
Lauryn Hill auditioned for the role of Dionne.
Sarah Michelle Gellar was offered the role of Amber, but couldn't get out of her obligations to All My Children, which she was working on at the time.
Alicia Silverstone thought Cher was a "materialistic, annoying little bitch" when she first read the script. She changed her mind when she realised how much Cher cares about her dad and other people.
She had no idea that Clueless was based on Emma until after she'd finished filming.
Stacey Dash, who played Dionne, was 27 years old and had a six-year-old son at the time of filming.
Before making Clueless, Jeremy Sisto had previously worked with Alicia Silverstone on a movie called Hideaway — he played a serial killer who goes after her character.
Amy Heckerling based the role of Mr. Hall on a friend of hers who was a teacher, who helped her observe real classes while she was working on the script, and even had a cameo as the principal in the final movie.
But she always had Wallace Shawn in mind to play Mr. Hall — and he was actually a teacher for three years in real life.
Amy Heckerling had a cameo as a bridesmaid for Miss Geist's wedding to Mr. Hall — she is best friends with Twink Caplan, who played Miss Geist, in real life.
Amy Heckerling borrowed the unique slang used in the movie from a bunch of places, including real teens at Beverly Hills High School and those auditioning for the movie, the castmembers and crew, the queer community, and, of course, her own brain.
Executives wanted Josh and Cher to be next-door neighbours because they thought the ex-step-sibling relationship was "too incestuous" — but Amy Heckerling pushed back, arguing (truthfully) that her own grandparents had been step-siblings who met as teenagers.
Breckin Meyer sprained his ankle while rehearsing one of the skateboarding scenes, and subsequent scenes that featured him had to work around the fact he couldn't really walk.
A fake, cardboard credit card was used for the "suck and blow" scene because some of the actors couldn't "suck" on a real credit card long enough to film their shots.
While filming Clueless, Paul Rudd's real life echoed the movie in a scary way — like Cher, he was robbed at gunpoint after he'd been out with a friend one night.
The 'This is an Alaïa' dress wasn't originally part of the script — the dress was chosen first, and then written in.
Alicia Silverstone had a massive 63 costume changes over the course of the movie.
Paul Rudd wore a lot of his own clothes to play Josh — including the Amnesty International t-shirt.
Donald Faison didn't actually have braces in real life — he wore them as Murray to hide an extra tooth he had (a baby tooth that had never fallen out).
The hairclip Cher wears in the concert scene was later used on Amanda Bynes' character in She's the Man.
Clueless costume designer Mona May later worked on Romy and Michele's High School Reunion, which she described as a "grown-up" version of Clueless, aesthetically.
For the iconic opening looks Cher and Dionne wear, the plaid suits were meant to be reminiscent of schoolgirl uniforms, while the over-the-knee socks were inspired by Cabaret.
Alicia Silverstone kept a lot of Cher's outfits, but ended up giving them all away.
Two extras were randomly paired to makeout for a party scene — they later went on to get engaged in real life.
Paul Rudd gave everyone one of those necklaces with their name written on a grain of rice as a farewell gift when shooting wrapped.
Stream Clueless on Hulu.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
Anthro charges $130 for wide-leg white jeans — Amazon does it for $32
New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change. An unwise person said once, 'Thou shalt not wear white pants before Memorial Day or after Labor Day,' and the entire style community retorted, 'Yeah, okay.' This fashion 'rule' actually originated in the 1800s when the wealthy would summer in coastal towns and return wearing white, so you knew they had just returned from holiday. But now that Anna Wintour has renounced her Condé Nast throne, fashion rules are up in the air. Maybe we can all rethink the rule and wear them whenever we darn well please — especially today, because we found a pair of white jeans that look an awful lot like a pair of $200 designer jeans for $32.28 on sale and come in white, blue, or whatever color floats your boat. They also have the same feel as the Colette pants at Anthro. Advertisement Over 2,000 were purchased last month, and the reviews are extremely favorable. One five-star reviewer said, 'Jeans can be hit or miss for me sometimes when it is an off-brand, but man, I love these! They have just the right amount of stretch, and so comfy. The wide leg at the bottom is so cute and stylish.' Made from stretchy, breathable denim, these jeans strike the sweet spot for comfort and style. The high waist flatters your figure, while the breezy wide leg and 26-inch inseam create a cropped, flared silhouette that's street-savvy and on-trend. Stock up now and wear them through summer to fall. It's crisp, chic, and just begging for a sunny brunch or rooftop soirée. Not a Prime member? Sign up for free and enjoy a 30-day trial with fast shipping, exclusive sales, streaming perks, and more. Amazon A zipper-and-button closure plus front patch pockets give them just the right amount of retro flair, making them versatile enough for everything from a polished workday look to a country concert in Nashville. True to US sizing, they range from X-Small (0–2) to XX-Large (20–22), so finding your fit is simple. This article was written by Emma Sutton-Williams, New York Post Commerce Writer/Reporter and resident fashionista. Emma is one of the best-dressed ladies in The Post's office, and also known for finding an unbelievable deal on any one of her stylish outfits. Divulging on everything from the most-popular and most-underrated purse brands to her honest thoughts on Kim Kardashian's Skims undergarments and apparel, Emma has cultivated an eye for style and an expertise for identifying the clothes and accessories worth your coin. At the same time, she proudly models the products she picks so you can see their fit and function first-hand. Emma has been creating shopping guides for The Post since 2024, and previously held bylines in Rolling Stone, Oprah Daily, Parents, InStyle, StyleCaster and more.
Forbes
3 hours ago
- Forbes
Alicia Silverstone Talks ‘Irish Blood' Series And ‘Clueless' At 30
When it comes to Millennials and the Generation X population, Alicia Silverstone remains forever cemented in their hearts and minds for her iconic acting career - especially for playing Cher Horowitz in the 1995 comedy classic Clueless, a popular Beverly Hills high school student navigating around peer pressures, unfair stereotypes and personal ambitions. These days, Silverstone, 48, is taking on a brand new role in a lighthearted yet gripping drama series, Irish Blood, which is now streaming on Acorn TV. She plays Fiona, a successful lawyer who receives a note from her estranged father, which sets her on a journey to Ireland to uncover the truth about her longtime absent parent and to deal with the unresolved anger that his abandonment has had on her life. Sitting down with Silverstone for a conversation over Zoom, I first wondered what it was about her Irish Blood lead character that initially intrigued her to want to make this the next project in her career. 'I think that I was attracted to the possibilities,' Silverstone said. 'When it came to me, it was just an idea, and I was attracted to the idea - this Irish land and the potential. Ultimately, what I think I love about the show and what I had hoped for was you've got the mystery, which is super fun, and the crime elements - but it's quirky. There's a quirky nature to the whole thing, and on top of it, I think it's an emotionally rich drama, and that's what I, as an actor, want - is to be able to sink my teeth into something. So, when they asked me to come onboard, I was able to be the producer, so that I could have the opportunity to make all these key creative hires and decisions. My focus was to make it as layered and nuanced and grounded as possible, so that I would have a lot to do - so it would be fun for me to act. I want to do things that are challenging and interesting.' Being also an executive producer on Irish Blood at this stage of her seasoned career in and around the entertainment industry, I was curious if Silverstone has noticed that her creative interests in stories and characters have evolved at all over the years. Silverstone said, 'I think I was lucky to do really complicated, layered things when I was young. I mean, The Crush is my first film and that's complicated, and there's lots to do there - and honestly, many of the roles I feel that I got to do - Clueless was a complicated pick. I got to work with James Gandolfini and Alain Corneau when I was little, and Kenneth Branagh on Shakespeare with Love's Labour's Lost. So, I think I've had a lot of juicy opportunities, but then I think those juicy opportunities got a little bit more light for a while, and then I went to theatre for that. I would go get all my workouts in the theatre with Laura Linney and with David Mamet, and that was incredible. And so, getting to do now, I think, when I'm looking at something, all I want is to be able to - if I can sink my teeth into it, I'm happy. I just want to be gnawing on that nylon bone and I think that it comes in different forms.' She added: 'If it's with [filmmaker] Yorgos Lanthimos, I don't care what it is - I'm obsessed with him. He's a brilliant genius, so you just want to do whatever he wants to do. But sometimes, when it's something like this [with Irish Blood] that you get to kind of create it for yourself, or create it with people, and AMC has been so kind to me and so generous. I have a great relationship with their head of development, Rob Fox. We work great together - and so, I feel very lucky.' With this year marking the 30th anniversary of Clueless, what is it in Silverstone's opinion that has made people, generation after generation, continue to resonate these three decades later with her beloved movie? 'Well, I don't think that any one of us could have ever imagined or known what a cultural phenomenon this would be. I mean, there is no way to know that. And certainly not all the executives that passed on it for a year, saying that no film should be made with a young girl in it as the lead - and they all had to eat that! So, I think none of us could have imagined what it would do, but I think when I look at it, what is it that makes it? My guess would be as good as yours, but my guess is Amy Heckerling wrote a brilliant script. Jane Austen ain't too shabby herself - the book Emma - and then Amy put her brilliant twist on it. She understands - I think she has her finger on the pulse of what is culturally happening in any given moment in such an incredible way. She worked with Mona May - and Mona May is the costume designer, and together, they just did this beautiful - I mean, the costumes are so incredible. They are a character in it and I think that it's lightning in a bottle. For some reason, all the magic came together at the same time.' Silverstone added: 'I think that it's incredibly satirical, but it's also very, very warm, and I think that it's happy. I know that's what Amy wanted. She wanted this happy feeling that she didn't have in her. She talks about it. She's like - I was so miserable. I just wanted a happy place. I don't know if she says she's so miserable, but she's like - it's the opposite of her. She was interested in a character that was just happy all the time.' With plenty of chatter going around of a Clueless sequel series being in development at Peacock with Silverstone involved, I wondered what she might be able to share at this point in the process. 'I can't share much,' Silverstone said, 'I can tell you that I'm excited about the possibility of it. We've been working on it and talking about it for a few years now, and we are at the stage - we're baby stages. It's just nothing is there yet. I mean, we know what we're doing, but we're not - we haven't shot anything yet. I certainly have to mum's the word there, but I'm hopeful that we'll get it right.' Circling back to her Irish Blood six-part murder mystery, with Silverstone being a mom in real life to her son, Bear - I was curious if she noticed that her real world experiences as a parent benefited her father-daughter and mother-daughter dynamic on-screen within this series. 'Well, I think all of your life experience, if you bring it to your work, helps with everything. I mean, that's what makes it interesting, right? When you have experience to bring to your work - so, for sure. I mean, that stands true for all of it. I will say Bear loves the show very much. He's 14 and I let him watch when we would get to what's called pre-lock. I would do like five rounds of edits before we would get to pre-lock, and when you get to pre-lock, I would let him watch it with me. He was like - Mom, this is so good! And he wanted to see the next one and the next one and the next one. So, it was really cool.' While I concluded my conversation with Silverstone, I wondered what she is most excited for audiences to see come of her portrayal as protagonist Fiona in Irish Blood, as they witness how this story unfolds. Silverstone said, 'Audiences will be really happy with the storytelling, and I think they will enjoy how fast it moves. You know, it really – it does move very fast and I think it's a fun ride. I think they're going to feel all the things. They're going to laugh, they're going to feel emotional about things, and I think they're going to be really drawn in and enjoy this ride.'
Buzz Feed
7 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
32 Budget-Friendly Desk Gifts For Your Work Bestie
A NeeDoh "Dream Drop," that'll be perfect for anyone looking to relieve some pent-up anxiety without leaving their desk. (Too many tabs open both literally and figuratively!) This lil' squish block is super satisfying to play with and reviewers love that it isn't sticky (no gross debris to try to clean off). A mini waving inflatable tube man that'll make them want to throw their hands up in the air and yell "WOOHOO!" Transparent sticky notes, so when they write themselves lil' reminders they can place them anywhere and everywhere without taking away from the aesthetic they've created for their workspace. A tiny bookshelf that'll quickly become their favorite way to de-stress after a long work day — they can shake it to send the teeny books flying, then (after a restorative deep breath) put them back on the shelf. My apologies to their rage room membership, this might just be the solution they need. A portable Bluetooth retro-style keyboard to replace the clunky one they received when they first started the job — this one is as cute as it is practical and can be used on the go. A "Beverage Buddee" can cover they can add to their Diet Coke can or preferred seltzer. It'll keep dust, bugs, and other random debris out of their drink (yuck) so they can rest easy knowing their drink is safe when they leave it at their desk to run to the restroom or go grab some lunch. A dimmable sad duck nightlight guaranteed to bring a smile to their face each time they glance down at it. He'll not-so-happily become their daily desk companion. (We all need one, honestly.) Oversized flower-shaped hair claws that'll help salvage their Monday mood — even on their worst hair day yet. How could anyone possibly stay grumpy when their updo looks like a garden? A special edition set of Little People figures inspired by Clueless that'll keep them company at their desk and ensure they'll have the cutest workspace in the office — as if someone could top their sense of decorating style! String lights that'll add a warmth to their work space and provide them with ample opportunities to scream-sing "autumn leaves falling down like pieces into placeeeee" a la Taylor Swift's "All Too Well" since their fave season is nearly en route. A precious little mushroom lamp because you both, admittedly, spend most of your time hanging out at your desks. It comes with a remote that'll help them swiftly choose from 16 colors and four brightness modes. And an adorable mushroom cup/tea infuser in case they're really into hot beverages and anything that screams "I-BELONG-IN-AN-ISOLATED-FOREST-CABIN-WITH-FAIRY-CREATURES." Retro-inspired notepads that aren't sticky, so they can quickly write down a reminder to pick up milk on the way home and throw it into their bag without fear of it coming out covered in crumbs and debris. Gross. Or a two-pack of undated planners that'll look cute on their desk while also providing them with the perfect space to note that they need to plan their cat's birthday party, text their mom about their date from last night, and pick up some coffee beans. A duo of glass tumblers (one for you and one for them!) you can use to toast the fool who *~ghosted~* them last weekend. Cheers to sippin' iced coffee in style. Or a glass tumbler for glamming up their daily iced coffee. It'll look super cute next to their laptop, and there's just something about a fancy tumbler that makes drinks taste 10x better amirite? Cheers to THAT. A Java Sok to keep their drink chilled, perfect for anyone who is sick and tired of drinking watered-down iced coffee. They can't help it that they had a very busy morning fielding emails — and their beverage shouldn't have to pay the price! Plus, an aesthetic bear–covered mug that'll be the cutest one in their office stash and simply make them smile whenever they reach for it. It's microwave-safe and likely to become as cherished as the plush teddy they don't admit to still snuggling with every night. A mug warmer that'll make sure they actually get to take a sip of hot coffee even if they've gotten distracted by a bazillion tasks since brewing it in the office kitchen. Tozo earbuds many swear are *just* like AirPods but for waaaaaay cheaper — a must-have for your coworker who sits next to that one person who always seems to be loudly blabbering away on the phone. A set of LED lightsaber chopsticks that'll make your weekly sushi lunches just a bit more fun — workplace gossip with a side of Star Wars?! Sign me up. A set of cute box cutters for when the 10 packages they ordered while their *~head was in the clouds~* arrives and they need to swiftly open them before their boss sees 😅. A set of heart-shaped faux leather bookmarks for anyone in your office book club who agrees dog-earing the pages of a book should be a sin (especially one borrowed from the library!). They can slip one of these cuties onto the corner of a page until they can get back to reading. A transparent mouse and memo pad they can use to keep their to-do list under hand, literally. They won't be able to make excuses about "forgetting to call your mom back" when it's written down in front of them all day, sorry! A magnetic cord holder they can rely on to keep the bajillion wires they somehow need to get your laptop functioning perfectly in check. No more internally screaming when their charging wire slips behind their desk! And an updated version of the Taylor Swift Little Golden Book your self-proclaimed Swiftie of a colleague will cherish. They'd be remiss not to say it's "the best thing that's ever been mine." 😉. The illustrations are gorgeous and it'll look so cute on display on their desk. The new *~style~* comes with 22 (ooOoOh ooOoOh) bonus pages including stickers and fill-in-the-blank activities. A set of Monkey Noodles that stretch up to 8 feet (!?!??) and will provide anyone with a non-disruptive way to scratch their fidgety itch. Perfect for anyone looking to relieve some pent up anxiety without leaving their desk. A "Liquipen" for anyone who grew up with a lava lamp but knows setting one up at their desk probably isn't *ideal*. Watching the little blobs float up and down will ease their mind and give them a chance to regroup before diving back into a project. Lanolips Multipurpose Superbalm — it'll moisturize their lips without making them feel sticky (a big win) but can *also* be used on their cuticles, elbows, and any other patch of dry skin they come across while procrastinating answering work emails. Self-adhesive sliding under-desk drawers for anyone who has a plethora of pens but no room for a filing cabinet or clunky desk — these can be popped right under the sleek space-saving desk they already have! And pretty in pink desk accessories to transform their desk from "hot mess" to "oh, yes!" The set comes with everything they could possibly need to keep their space nicely organized — a gift that'll keep on giving.
