Actress Alicia Silverstone, who scored a break-out hit with the movie Clueless 25 years ago, has revealed her favorite part about becoming a star. The actress says her embrace by the gay community brought her the most joy.
In an extended retrospective with Vogue, Silverstone reflects on the filming process, reception of the film, and its enduring legacy. Amid memories of meeting the late Brittany Murphy for the first time, working with Paul Rudd and Stacey Dash, and not quite seeing the humor in such a materialistic character, Silverstone admits to an unexpected delight.
Related: ‘Clueless’ might get a remake and the internet is divided about it
“I was really well-received by the gay community after Clueless came out,” Silverstone says of her success. “They’ve always been my people. I don’t know if it’s just this film or my vibe that’s endeared me to them, but that has always been my favorite aspect of the film. Particularly what it means to gay boys.”
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Clueless also broke new ground by including a gay character in the person of the ever-fashionable “elusive Christian”–a highly unusual step for a teen comedy. Silverstone adds that the film helped her find a style consultant and gay bestie of her own.
“Christian Siriano [of Project Runway fame] is like my real-life Christian,” she says. “Whenever we hang out he’s basically like my boyfriend. We love each other so much and I’m sure some of that stems from him really admiring Clueless and what Cher meant to him and all of his friends growing up.”
Clueless continues to have an avid following 25 years on. The hit film also spawned a short-lived TV series in 1996, a stage musical in 2018, as well as a series of novels. In 2019, CBS announced it would adapt the film as a new drama series.
ThinkPlease
I don’t think we’re a social monolith to be appropriated by you, Ms. Silverstone. Most racial groups certainly wouldn’t appreciate or tolerate having that statement made about them.
Come to think of it, most racial groups wouldn’t tolerate having some of those movies made about them, either. Huh. There’s a life statement in there.
fashionisto7
OMG! Why can’t you just say thank you? Why so dramatic? That movie is a treasure and her intent is 100% good. Why can’t gay people just feel the love from our allies? There’s more than one way to express it and she did it perfectly. I love you Alicia, if you’re reading :).
ThinkPlease
“The gays have always been my people” is a flat-out insult, that’s why. If I said that about a group of black people, I’d have half the site screaming for my head. Heck, mildly intimating that just maybe there’s a minor over-reaction to a mask available in a dozen colors has half the site screaming.
Let’s try that.
“The blacks have always been my people.”
I’m sure everybody’s going to be completely OK with that statement, right?
The movie’s fun, but not a treasure, and her intent is 100% unthinking.
JaceFace
You must be so fun at parties…
ThinkPlease
JaceFace: I don’t much bother with your kind of party because they’re populated by shallow people who make condescending commentary rather than thinking about any statements that dribble out of their mouths.
Oh. Wait. You just did that.
But that’s OK, you’d hate my kind of party. We’d bore you to tears in ten minutes.
RiBrad
@ThinkPlease I sit somewhere between you and the people heckling you. I agree it feels awkward when people refer to us as “the gays”. It sounds like we’re a toy to be played with or a website to be consulted for fashion advice. But on the other hand, I understand it comes from a place of love and solidarity. Like it or not, we are viewed as a big community and many people have an attachment to us as a whole in their minds. That’s not a terrible thing. I for one, LOVE being part of the community.
ThinkPlease
RiBrad: I tend to be a bit more of an independent, myself, and would rather be treated as an individual, personally. Similarly, I don’t see the “community” as monolithic in the slightest.
As evidenced here by, as you noticed, “hecklers.” 🙂 I certainly don’t include them in my personal community. They’re not capable of integrating. You? We may disagree, but we do so respectfully. I can understand and appreciate your point of view, realize I’m not going to change it, but can serve to clarify my views a bit more so you understand where my viewpoint is and vice-versa.
It helps both of us to see where the other stands. The name calling? It does nothing useful, but certainly shows vast cracks in a community that’s supposed to be accepting of diversity. Of course, we all know how much real diamond is in that glitter.
Cam
I get what you’re saying, it does come off a bit like gay people are accessories. Which was a very 90s attitude in Media.
ThinkPlease
@Cam: Exactly. I don’t feel like a purse, a lipstick, or a side-companion for her amusement. It’s a reduction of a community to a very one-dimensional accesorization and I don’t appreciate it very much.
I get that others may feel differently and that’s fine, but I can sure do without the insults.
Prax07
@ThinkPlease STFU. That is all.
ThinkPlease
No. That is all.
fashionisto7
@ThinkPlease You are important, you matter, you are loved by someone, I hope. DON’T ALIENATE OUR ALLIES WITH YOUR LOW SELF ESTEEM. Just say thank you. As far as the black thing, you’re trippin. That’s apples and eggplants.
ThinkPlease
It’s fun to note what sets people off. I expect better from her than being her field queer. You don’t. But I’m the one with the low self-esteem. I don’t need to borrow it from a Hollywood blonde.
And if she said that about her blacks, she’d be dead to you in half a second. Grow a pair and value yourself.
Jim
How condescending. “My people”!!!! This is the 21st Century. Get over yourself.
ThinkPlease
Well, apparently it’s OK when you say it. 🙂 But I agree with you. Alicia? She’s my white chick.