'Drop Dead Gorgeous' Is 20 Years Old - See What the Cast Is Up To Now!

01of 09Kirsten Dunst (Amber Atkins)Everett Collection; Kevork Djansezian/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty ImagesDunst was perfectly cast as Amber Atkins, the deserving underdog of the pageant world who tap danced into the hearts of many. Post-Drop Dead Gorgeous,Dunst starred in teen classics includingBring It OnandGet Over It. She also played the iconic Mary Jane Watson in theSpider-Mantrilogy.Since then, Dunst has taken on more serious acting roles in films likeMarie Antoinette, MelancholiaandThe Beguiled- andhas a child with herFargocostar and fiancé Jesse Plemons.

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Kirsten Dunst (Amber Atkins)

Everett Collection; Kevork Djansezian/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Dunst was perfectly cast as Amber Atkins, the deserving underdog of the pageant world who tap danced into the hearts of many. Post-Drop Dead Gorgeous,Dunst starred in teen classics includingBring It OnandGet Over It. She also played the iconic Mary Jane Watson in theSpider-Mantrilogy.

Since then, Dunst has taken on more serious acting roles in films likeMarie Antoinette, MelancholiaandThe Beguiled- andhas a child with herFargocostar and fiancé Jesse Plemons.

02of 09Amy Adams (Leslie Miller)Courtesy Everett Collection; Dan MacMedan/Getty ImagesFun fact: Amy Adams' role as promiscuous and a little bit pregnant (but don’t tell her boyfriend) Leslie inDrop Dead Gorgeouswas the A-lister’s film debut. Adams has certainly kept very busy the past 20 years. She earned an Academy Award nomination for her role in the 2005 film,Junebug, which catapulted her into the spotlight. Since then, Adams has starred in films such asThe Wedding Date, Enchanted, Julie & Julia, Doubt, Charlie Wilson’s War,The Fighter,Her,AmericanHustleandVice. Most recently, Adams thrilled in the 2018 HBO miniseriesSharp Objects, earning her both Golden Globe and Emmy nominations.She has been nominated for a whopping six Academy Awards, and is a mom to daughter Aviana with husband Darren Le Gallo.

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Amy Adams (Leslie Miller)

Courtesy Everett Collection; Dan MacMedan/Getty Images

Fun fact: Amy Adams' role as promiscuous and a little bit pregnant (but don’t tell her boyfriend) Leslie inDrop Dead Gorgeouswas the A-lister’s film debut. Adams has certainly kept very busy the past 20 years. She earned an Academy Award nomination for her role in the 2005 film,Junebug, which catapulted her into the spotlight. Since then, Adams has starred in films such asThe Wedding Date, Enchanted, Julie & Julia, Doubt, Charlie Wilson’s War,The Fighter,Her,AmericanHustleandVice. Most recently, Adams thrilled in the 2018 HBO miniseriesSharp Objects, earning her both Golden Globe and Emmy nominations.

She has been nominated for a whopping six Academy Awards, and is a mom to daughter Aviana with husband Darren Le Gallo.

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Ellen Barkin (Annette Atkins)

Everett Collection; Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images

In 2006, she endured a very public split from Revlon chairman Ron Perelman (and a subsequent very public auction of her jewels from their relationship).

04of 09Allison Janney (Loretta)Courtesy Everett Collection; Kevork Djansezian/NBC/NBCU Photo BankThat’s “Academy Award, Emmy, BAFTA and Golden Globe Award-winning actress Allison Janney” to you! After playing trailer trash/pseudo-mother figure Loretta, Janney continued to impress the world with her character acting. Her breakthrough role as C. J. Cregg onThe West Wingearned Janney four PrimetimeEmmy Awards. Janney also won an Emmy in 2014 for her supporting role inMasters of Sexand has been nominated 5 consecutive times for her role on the sitcomMom, taking home 2 Emmys for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series. Janney’s film credits includeAmerican Beauty,The Help,Tallulah, andThe Girl on the Train.Her role in the 2017 filmI, Tonyaearned her an Academy Award.

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Allison Janney (Loretta)

Courtesy Everett Collection; Kevork Djansezian/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank

That’s “Academy Award, Emmy, BAFTA and Golden Globe Award-winning actress Allison Janney” to you! After playing trailer trash/pseudo-mother figure Loretta, Janney continued to impress the world with her character acting. Her breakthrough role as C. J. Cregg onThe West Wingearned Janney four PrimetimeEmmy Awards. Janney also won an Emmy in 2014 for her supporting role inMasters of Sexand has been nominated 5 consecutive times for her role on the sitcomMom, taking home 2 Emmys for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series. Janney’s film credits includeAmerican Beauty,The Help,Tallulah, andThe Girl on the Train.Her role in the 2017 filmI, Tonyaearned her an Academy Award.

05of 09Denise Richards (Becky Ann Leeman)Courtesy Everett Collection; Brett Costello / Newspix via Getty Images20 years later and we’re still thinking about Richards' character dancing with a life-sized replica of Jesus to “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You.” After playing Rebecca “Becky” Ann Leeman, Richards appeared in other films such asScary Movie 3,ValentineandLove, Actually. She made television appearances inFriends(as Ross’s cousin who he awkwardly hits on),Spin City, andTwo and a Half Men.Richards married Charlie Sheen in 2002 and famously shot aPlayboycenterfold just 5 months after giving birth to their first daughter, Sam. She filed for divorce from Sheen in 2004 while pregnant with their second daughter, Lola Rose. In 2011,Richards adopted her third daughter, Eloise Joni Richards, as a single parent, thoughshe has since remarried.Most recently, Richards has made herself at home amongstThe Real House Wives of Beverly Hillsand joined the cast of the classic Soap OperaThe Bold and the Beautifulas Shauna Fulton.

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Denise Richards (Becky Ann Leeman)

Courtesy Everett Collection; Brett Costello / Newspix via Getty Images

20 years later and we’re still thinking about Richards' character dancing with a life-sized replica of Jesus to “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You.” After playing Rebecca “Becky” Ann Leeman, Richards appeared in other films such asScary Movie 3,ValentineandLove, Actually. She made television appearances inFriends(as Ross’s cousin who he awkwardly hits on),Spin City, andTwo and a Half Men.

Richards married Charlie Sheen in 2002 and famously shot aPlayboycenterfold just 5 months after giving birth to their first daughter, Sam. She filed for divorce from Sheen in 2004 while pregnant with their second daughter, Lola Rose. In 2011,Richards adopted her third daughter, Eloise Joni Richards, as a single parent, thoughshe has since remarried.

Most recently, Richards has made herself at home amongstThe Real House Wives of Beverly Hillsand joined the cast of the classic Soap OperaThe Bold and the Beautifulas Shauna Fulton.

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Kirstie Alley (Gladys Leeman)

Courtesy Everett Collection; Eric McCandless/ABC via Getty Images

After enduring public speculation about her weight, Alley became a Jenny Craig spokesperson in 2004 and in 2005, played herself on Showtime’sFat Actress. She then starred inKirstie Alley’s Big Life, and managed to finish in 2nd place onDancing With the Starsin 2012.

Heading back to her campy roots, Alley also appeared in the second season ofScream Queensin 2016. She seems to have a knack for competition shows–Alley finished as runner-up onCelebrity Big Brotherin 2018.

07of 09Mindy Sterling (Iris Clark)Courtesy Everett Collection; Paul Archuleta/Getty ImagesMindy Sterling’s character in the film, Iris Clark, wasn’t quite as vicious as Kirsty Alley’s conniving pageant mom, but shedidhelp her rig the Sarah Rose Cosmetics Mount Rose American Teen Princess Pageant. Sterling has enjoyed steady work as a talented voice and character actress. She’s best known for her role inAustin Powersas Frau Farbissina, and has since appeared in shows likeDesperate Housewivesin 2010, the comedy seriesLegitfrom 2013 to 2014 and Netflix’s 2018 show,A Series of Unfortunate Events.

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Mindy Sterling (Iris Clark)

Courtesy Everett Collection; Paul Archuleta/Getty Images

Mindy Sterling’s character in the film, Iris Clark, wasn’t quite as vicious as Kirsty Alley’s conniving pageant mom, but shedidhelp her rig the Sarah Rose Cosmetics Mount Rose American Teen Princess Pageant. Sterling has enjoyed steady work as a talented voice and character actress. She’s best known for her role inAustin Powersas Frau Farbissina, and has since appeared in shows likeDesperate Housewivesin 2010, the comedy seriesLegitfrom 2013 to 2014 and Netflix’s 2018 show,A Series of Unfortunate Events.

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Sam McMurray (Lester Leeman)

Courtesy Everett Collection; Christopher Polk/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images

09of 09Brittany Murphy (Lisa Swenson)Courtesy Everett CollectionBest known for her role in 1995’sClueless, Murphy’s character inDrop Dead Gorgeouswasn’texactlypageant material, so she took one for the team when Kirsten Dunst’s character Amber needed her most.In 2009, Murphy died from complications of pneumonia. Prior to her death, Murphy voiced Luanne Platter onKing of the Hillfor the entirely of the show’s 1997 to 2009 run. She also starred in the 2002 film8 Mile, and started to make a name for herself in romantic comedies such asUptown Girls, Just MarriedandLittle Black Book. Murphy starred in many independent films and returned to voice acting with the 2006 animated filmHappy Feet.Her final film,Something Wicked, was released in 2014.

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Brittany Murphy (Lisa Swenson)

Courtesy Everett Collection

Best known for her role in 1995’sClueless, Murphy’s character inDrop Dead Gorgeouswasn’texactlypageant material, so she took one for the team when Kirsten Dunst’s character Amber needed her most.

In 2009, Murphy died from complications of pneumonia. Prior to her death, Murphy voiced Luanne Platter onKing of the Hillfor the entirely of the show’s 1997 to 2009 run. She also starred in the 2002 film8 Mile, and started to make a name for herself in romantic comedies such asUptown Girls, Just MarriedandLittle Black Book. Murphy starred in many independent films and returned to voice acting with the 2006 animated filmHappy Feet.Her final film,Something Wicked, was released in 2014.

source: people.com