Romy and Michele's High School Reunion was the first film I made in the US, indeed the first time I'd ever worked in any capacity in the US. It was also the first time I had ever played an American character on film. I still can't understand why they cast me!!
It's actually amazing to me how this film struck a chord with people all over the world, but especially in America. For me, it was a total revelation, because I had never been to a prom or a reunion ever in my life. We don't have them in Scotland. The film climaxes in a dance between me and Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino (for which we were nominated for a MTV movie award, thank you very much), which has also become really iconic.
I was seriously busking it in terms of my understanding of the jokes and references in the script. Luckily my character, Sandy Frink, was similarly challenged. He is the geeky boy at high school with Romy and Michele who returns in Michele's dreams, and finally really appears at the high school reunion in a helicopter, having become very rich after discovering a new form of rubber. As you do.
I can't tell you how naive I was. At the read-through an actor pronouced 'Tucson' (where the film is set) correctly and I snorted, thinking that they had made a sort of joke because I really thought it was pronounced 'Tuck-son'. Then the next person said it and I realised I was the one who had it wrong!!
Here are two clips...first of all my favourite scene, the one which flashes forward and Lisa and I are old people. I just love my turkey neck.
And secondly the famous dance scene (performed to the music of Ms Cyndi Lauper, who I would work with many years later).