The actor revealed they turned the role down five times as they were unable to relate to the characters
American Pie is considered a cult classic thanks to its star-studded cast, its take on teenage sex and the film’s thigh-slapping comedy.
But when the franchise was still just a pipe dream, not everyone was convinced that it would be a success at the box office – including one of the movie’s main characters.
Gen Z might think that the movies are ‘deeply problematic’, however, a lot of people consider them to be the epitome of 90s comedy.
American Pie made the likes of Jason Biggs, Jennifer Coolidge and Chris Klein household names overnight, and the cast are still reaping the rewards from their roles today.
It gave many of the actors a much-needed leg up in Hollywood, which then led them to illustrious careers in both TV and film.
It’s funny what a flick about four awkward teenagers trying to lose their virginity by prom night can lead to, eh?
However, one character revealed that she nearly missed out on starring in American Pie as she was ‘morally against’ the film’s message.
Natasha Lyonne and Tara Reid in 1999’s American Pie (Universal Pictures)
Natasha Lyonne – who played Jessica – revealed that she had turned down the offer of a role a whopping five times before she eventually accepted.
The New Yorker, who is renowned for her raspy voice and tough persona on screen, portrayed the sexually experienced pal of Vicky (Tara Reid), who is Kevin’s (Thomas Ian Nicholas) long-term girlfriend.
She’s best remembered for her perfectly timed sarcasm and one liners, which provided some comedic relief throughout American Pie amid all of the high school drama.
Lyonne’s character was reprised for American Pie 2, American Wedding and American Reunion, so it’s clear she’s an integral part of the cast.
But she has now revealed the story behind how she almost wasn’t, while sitting down Josh Horowitz for a live episode of his Happy, Sad, Confused podcast earlier this month.
The actress pictured reuniting with her co-stars in 2019 (X/@alydenisof)
The Orange is the New Black star, 45, explained that her teenage experiences – in particular, her time at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts – didn’t correlate with those of the American Pie characters.
“I turned down that movie like five times out of sheer confusion,” Lyonne said.
“I was at Tisch by 15, so I had no tangible experience of going to like a white person high school and then doing dates for prom.
“I had no idea what the movie was about. I think that is why I was sort of morally against it.”
The Russian Doll star said she struggled to relate to the role of Jessica, as being from the Big Apple, she did not identify with the ‘suburban’ characters.
“That said, Chris and Paul Weitz [the directors and producers] are lovely,” Lyonne continued, before touching on some other aspects which made her wary of signing up to American Pie.
“I think I also have never really enjoyed the idea of like, you know, these are the ‘hot chicks’ and you are the ‘other’. I’m like, that’s not that fun guys.
“But now, with 400 years between me and the film, I can see that it’s very interesting that it touched a nerve for people and that they felt seen in it. I love Jason Biggs, I love Eddie Kaye Thomas very much. But yeah, I was very confused by the film.”
I think we can all agree on the fact that we are very happy Lyonne’s moral compass didn’t prevail.
