These My Girl Secrets Feel Like Sunshine on a Cloudy Day

These My Girl Secrets Feel Like Sunshine on a Cloudy Day

As I delve into the captivating tales of these young stars who brought “My Girl” to life, I am struck by the profound impact their lives had on this iconic film. The experiences they accrued, both on and off the set, are a testament to their resilience, creativity, and the unyielding spirit of childhood.


In the past, there was a girl who had much to discover about existence, such as the mysterious fact that too much blue eyelid makeup is seldom appropriate.

11-year-old Vada Sultenfuss resided in a funeral home with her father, who was a widower. She was known for her quick thinking, battled hypochondria, exerted authority over her closest friend, had romantic feelings towards her teacher, and navigated life’s complexities as she approached womanhood.

Indeed, she played the leading role in the popular 1991 coming-of-age film titled “My Girl“, which featured Anna Chlumsky from “Veep“, Macaulay Culkin known for his role in “Home Alone“, as well as Dan Aykroyd and Jamie Lee Curtis.

In the 1970s setting, My Girl stars Anna Chlumsky as Vada and Macaulay Culkin as her affectionate companion Thomas J. This movie became an emotional narrative about puberty, friendship, transformation, and grief for ’90s kids, often found rewinding it on their VCR players.

Despite the lingering distress from the incident where a swarm of bees – a shocking event that took place three decades ago and claimed the life of Thomas J., leaving an indelible mark on our childhood memories – we’re compelled to share another piece of information: Culkin was hesitant about kissing his romantic partner.

Well, we guess you’d say, what could make him feel this way? Puberty, apparently. 

He confessed during his 2018 interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show that he didn’t feel keen about the task, expressing about Chlumsky: “We were friendly, but I remember thinking… ‘Ugh, a woman! I have to kiss a woman?!’

Frankly speaking, I can’t help but feel a deep connection to the ’90s film in question. When people ask if I tire of discussing it, it’s like they’re asking if I grow weary of reminiscing about my first school play. In an interview with Elle magazine in 2022, I admitted, “Absolutely. Completely. Just as you might tire of discussing that performance you gave when you were ten years old.

Although it may still be painful, we have the behind-the-scenes stories from the movie production – celebrating its 33rd anniversary on November 27th – to brighten our gloomy days instead.

These My Girl Secrets Feel Like Sunshine on a Cloudy Day

A memorable scene from the film is when Vada (Anna Chlumsky) and Thomas J. (Macaulay Culkin), who were childhood friends, choose to experiment with kissing. Since they were just kids, it seemed natural at the time. This was their first-ever smooch on screen, and interestingly enough, it was also their first on-screen kiss in reality. However, due to filming requirements, they had to repeat the act upwards of 15 times during the scene.

As Chlumsky said on Live With Regis and Kathie Lee in 1991, “We just wanted to get it over with.” 

When the filming for “My Girl” started, Macaulay Culkin had already established himself as a blockbuster child star from “Home Alone.” Yet, he was just an 11-year-old boy, and this was particularly noticeable during the kissing scene. Reflecting on this in 2018 to Ellen DeGeneres, he said, “We got along well, but at the same time it was also like, ‘This is so awkward.’

By a stroke of luck, they both turned out to be the recipients of the 1992 MTV Movie Award for “Best Kiss”. In her acceptance speech, Chlumsky humorously remarked, “It seems that my very first kiss earned me an award.

These My Girl Secrets Feel Like Sunshine on a Cloudy Day

Despite moving on from her “My Girl” days, six-time Emmy nominee Anna Chlumsky still practices some facial exercises she picked up from her co-stars Jamie Lee Curtis and Dan Aykroyd. Among these techniques are one she refers to as the silent scream and another called the tiny face.

The actress stated to ET in 2015, “It draws energy from your face when you’re starting to feel drained,” she explained, “and if it’s chilly outdoors, it provides warmth. Yes, I absolutely do. I continue to rely on it.

These My Girl Secrets Feel Like Sunshine on a Cloudy Day

Similar to the mischievous character he played in Home Alone, Culkin also enjoyed playing pranks – a fact that came to light during his work on My Girl.

During an appearance on The Arsenio Hall Show, Chlumsky reminisced that her co-star once pranked them by using double-sided tape from wardrobe and sticking it on the toilet seat in the school trailer. Chlumsky admitted that she and their tutor ended up falling for this trick.

These My Girl Secrets Feel Like Sunshine on a Cloudy Day

To maintain a family-friendly environment while filming, the adult actors needed to watch their language carefully. Consequently, Curtis implemented a “swear jar” system where older actors were fined if they used inappropriate words.

In an interview with Vanity Fair back in 2019, she admitted, “I’m somewhat of a free spirit,” as she vividly described the chaotic scene where child actors jumped into the water. She recalled, “There were helicopters, cranes, and about 15 cameras. The water was only three feet deep. They had divers, stuntmen, ambulances… It was madness! I picked up two cans of swear words and, in front of the entire crew, I said to Macaulay and Anna, ‘Congratulations on finishing the movie. Go f–k yourselves,’ and I gave each a can, which had around $500 inside.

These My Girl Secrets Feel Like Sunshine on a Cloudy Day

A crucial event unfolds in the movie when Thomas J., during his hunt for Vada’s mood ring in the woods, kicks a beehive, leading to an onslaught of bees attacking him. In this scene, he finds himself enclosed by a cloud of bees, frantically waving his arms to keep them at bay.

Behind-the-scenes, Culkin admitted that what attracted the bees to his hands was not just any ordinary thing, but rather pollen. He explained, “They sprinkled pollen on each of my fingers, so whenever I’d swing, they would swarm towards my fingers,” in an interview with Bobbie Wygant in 1991. Despite enduring only a minor bee sting, it’s worth noting that the young actor was indeed working with live bees. “They continually tossed them at me every time,” Culkin reminisced, “which is why it appears there were many bees on set.

These My Girl Secrets Feel Like Sunshine on a Cloudy Day

As the final moments unfolded, I found myself utterly captivated by Clumsy’s poignant, soul-stirring portrayal. My heart ached as my character grappled with the loss of Thomas J., standing before his casket during an emotionally charged funeral scene.

In a past interview on the show “Live With Regis and Kathie Lee,” Chlumsky shared that her mother had assisted her in getting ready for an emotional scene by helping her prepare up to an hour before filming. To do this, she would need to think about sad things. Later, during an interview on “HuffPost Live,” Chlumsky reminisced about how her mother had said, “Imagine me in that casket.

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2024-11-27 16:17