There are few modern comedies quite as beloved and quotable as Mean Girls. Tina Fey made her screenwriting debut to wild success, hilariously portraying the inner politics of high school and the drama and lies that so often ensue. Fey's dialogue from Mean Girls is still quoted constantly, as the movie has never stopped playing on syndication since it first arrived. Rachel McAdams' Regina George gets much of the script's nastiest and best lines, and now it appears that one in particular came from a real conversation that Tina Fey had as a kid. Specifically, when Regina tell Cady that she's pretty, and then promptly gives the newcomer attitude for agreeing with her. As Fey tells it,
A Regina George move that I've experienced in real life is in the movie and in the show. A girl did say to me once, like my freshman year of high school, 'Oh you're really pretty,' and I was like 'Thank you.' She was like 'Oh, so you agree?' It was a trap. It was a trap, she didn't think I was pretty.
This quick exchange in Mean Girls was one of the first moments that showed Regina's true colors, and the evil incarnate that lived within the young girl. Now it makes sense why the scene plays so well-- it was from Tina Fey's actual childhood. Let's hope no one ever accused her of making out with a hot dog as well.
Tina Fey has been really re-exploring Mean Girls lately, as she's just opened a Broadway musical version of the iconic movie. Fey wrote the book of the upcoming musical, which will no doubt help the stage adaptation feel true to the original. As such, the writer/actress is revealing new information about the movie, as she did with Variety about that specific cafeteria scene.
For those who aren't that familiar with Mean Girls (I love you, you're like a martian), you can reference the iconic scene below.
Regina George is really something else. One time she punched me in the face. It was awesome.
The above clip shows that Tina Fey's childhood trauma became very useful later in life. She clearly understands how queen bees and wannabes function within High School, which is why she was able to capture something remarkable in Mean Girls. Fey is a pusher, she pushes scripts to their best.
Mean Girls is currently running on Broadway, complete with Tina Fey's book. In the meantime, check out our 2018 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.
