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Coolidge's 'Mean' Role: Duff Recalls Scary Step-Mom Act
29 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Hilary Duff found Jennifer Coolidge's stepmom portrayal 'mean' and 'scary'.
- Duff was 15 when filming 'A Cinderella Story' with Coolidge.
- Coolidge's iciness was part of her performance as the evil stepmother.
Hilary Duff recently shared her experience filming the 2004 movie 'A Cinderella Story,' where she starred alongside Jennifer Coolidge. Duff, who was only 15 during production, recalled Coolidge's portrayal of her "evil stepmother" being genuinely "mean" towards her. This acting choice, while effective for the character, made the experience "a little scary" for the young actress.
Duff explained that she had to constantly remind herself that Coolidge's on-set demeanor was purely performative and not personal. Despite the initial intimidation, Duff expressed admiration for Coolidge's considerable talent and her highly successful career, particularly her recent acclaimed roles. Duff found it impressive and slightly daunting to witness Coolidge's powerful performances as a teenager.
'A Cinderella Story' saw Duff as Sam, an outcast treated poorly by her stepmother and stepsisters after her father's death. Coolidge played the greedy stepmother, a role that required her to exhibit a chilling coldness towards Duff's character. The film ultimately concluded with a classic fairy tale ending for Sam.
