Hilary Duff recalls Jennifer Coolidge being 'mean to me' as evil stepmom on A Cinderella Story: '...

A teen actress at the time, Duff had to remind herself, &34;You're filming a movie, you're filming a movie.&34; Hilary Duff recalls Jennifer Coolidge being 'mean to me' as evil stepmom on A Cinderella Story: 'A little scary' A teen actress at the time, Duff had to remind herself, &34;You're filming a movie, you're filming a movie.&34; By Sydney Bucksbaum :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/headshotb5dc24df8d5d43d1a16c9ce0e0383119.jpg) Sydney Bucksbaum Sydney Bucksbaum is a staff writer at . She has been working at EW since 2019 and is a published author.

A teen actress at the time, Duff had to remind herself, "You're filming a movie, you're filming a movie."

Hilary Duff recalls Jennifer Coolidge being 'mean to me' as evil stepmom on A Cinderella Story: 'A little scary'

A teen actress at the time, Duff had to remind herself, "You're filming a movie, you're filming a movie."

By Sydney Bucksbaum

Sydney Bucksbaum

Sydney Bucksbaum is a staff writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2019 and is a published author. Her work has previously appeared in *TV Guide Magazine*, E! News/E! Online, *The Hollywood Reporter*, Mashable, Bustle, IGN, DCComics.com, Inverse, *The Daily Northwestern*, and more.

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November 28, 2025 7:12 p.m. ET

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Jennifer Coolidge and Hilary Duff in 'A Cinderella Story'. Credit:

Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett Collection

All's fair in love, war, and acting for Hilary Duff and Jennifer Coolidge.

Two decades after they starred together in the teen rom-com *A Cinderella Story*, Duff is looking back at how Coolidge was "mean" to her during filming to bring their characters' fraught stepmom-stepdaughter dynamic to life. For Duff, it was difficult then to remember that Coolidge's iciness was performative and not personal.

"She was, like, mean to me, so it was a little scary because I was only 15 and she was just mean to me because she's my evil stepmother," Duff said in a new video interview with *Variety*. "At the time, I think I had to be like, 'You're filming a movie, you're filming a movie.'"

Jennifer Coolidge and Hilary Duff in 'A Cinderella Story'.

Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett Collection

Duff went on to praise her once-intimidating costar for her talent and success, especially in recent years. "It's been so much fun to watch her career, because she just goes there in such a big way that it was really impressive and slightly intimidating as like a teenager," she said.

Representatives for Coolidge didn't immediately respond to *'*s request for comment on Duff's remarks.

Duff starred in the modern *Cinderella* retelling as orphan outcast Sam, who is treated horribly by her greedy stepmom (Coolidge) and stepsisters (Madeline Zima and Andrea Avery) after her father's death.**

Thanks to Sam's longtime friend (and "fairy godmother" guardian) Rhonda (Regina King), her life changes when she goes to her school dance in a gorgeous gown and mask, and learns her unidentified pen pal is popular high school quarterback Austin (Chad Michael Murray).

Chad Michael Murray still gushes over 'Cinderella Story' love interest Hilary Duff

'A Cinderella Story' costume designer addresses infamous tiny mask scene

After some mistaken-identity hijinks, it all, of course, leads to a happily-ever-after where Sam gets the guy *and* the last laugh by learning she actually inherited everything from her father. She's finally able to afford going to her dream school, Princeton, with her dream guy, Austin, while her evil step-family is now forced to work for her to avoid jail time after their inheritance fraud is exposed.

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

Since the 2004 rom-com, Duff went on to star in many different movies and TV shows, including *Raise Your Voice*, *The Haunting of Sharon Tate*, *Younger*, *How I Met Your Father*, and *Gossip Girl*. She is currently relaunching her music career with new album *Luck… or Something* (out next year) and a corresponding tour.

Meanwhile, Coolidge has become a two-time Emmy winner thanks to her scene-stealing performance on HBO's hit satire *The White Lotus*. She has also appeared in many movies and TV shows, including the *American Pie* franchise*, Promising Young Woman*, *For Your Consideration*, *2 Broke Girls*, and *The Watcher*.

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Source: Movies

Published: December 03, 2025 at 04:38PM on Source: ANDY MAG

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