'Christmas Vacation' Star Beverly D'Angelo Reflects on Iconic Film's Lasting Impact

In a recent interview, actress Beverly D'Angelo, who portrayed the matriarch Ellen Griswold in the 'National Lampoon's Vacation' film series, discusses the surprising and lasting impact of the 1989 holiday classic 'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.'

D'Angelo, now 73 years old, admits she never imagined the Griswold family would become such an integral part of popular culture. However, she believes the key to the film's enduring success is that "everybody identifies with some Griswold character, and there's just something about that family."

D'Angelo and her co-star Chevy Chase, who played husband Clark Griswold, have maintained a close bond over the years, with D'Angelo describing Chase as a "brother." The two have reunited with other castmates, including Randy Quaid and Juliette Lewis, at fan events, which D'Angelo says has been "really nice" as they share a common experience of making the beloved movies together.

While the 'Vacation' films are known for their comedic hijinks, D'Angelo sees them as a "love story" at their core. Despite the family's increasingly disastrous vacations, she says, "Love conquers all at the end of the day. Everyone goes through this disaster, and they come out whole."

D'Angelo also relishes the connection she's able to make with fans, who she believes see their own holiday experiences reflected in the Griswolds' antics. As she enters the later stages of her career, D'Angelo says "there's really nothing more important than that connection in the moment and feeling like I've made a human connection."