Jason Biggs and Shannon Elizabeth in ‘American Pie’ (1999)
Credit: Michael Ansell/Universal/Kobal/Shutterstock
Though American Pie was all fun and games once the cameras started rolling, Shannon Elizabeth recalls being pretty terrified while trying to land a part in the hit ʼ90s comedy.
“The audition process for American Pie was difficult,” Elizabeth told Fox News in an interview published on Sunday. “I was scared. I was really scared.”
She eventually succeeded in landing the role of sexy foreign exchange student, Nadia, but the experience was nerve-racking all the same — especially when it came to performing one of the movie’s most iconic scenes.
The teen comedy follows a group of high school students who make a pact to lose their virginity before graduation, prompting a series of absurd and hilarious attempts to do so. At the end of the film, Jason Biggs‘ Jim dances to the Barenaked Ladies hit “One Week,” while stripping off his clothes on a video call with Nadia. But Elizabeth shared that part of her audition involved her doing the dancing instead.
Shannon Elizabeth in Los Angeles in 2024
Credit: Steve Granitz/FilmMagic
“In the audition, it was the opposite of what you saw in the movie,” she told the outlet with a smile. “I had to dance for Jason instead of him dancing for me.”
In that way, playing Nadia pulled Elizabeth significantly out of her comfort zone. Despite a background in modeling, the actress noted that playing the sultry exchange student was a challenge.
“I’m not somebody [who’s] super comfortable in my own skin, to be honest,” she admitted. “But, you just overcome that. When you have to turn it on, you have to work, because I do love working. I do love acting. So you just let everything else go.”
American Pie served as a breakout role for Shannon, who recalled being “so excited” to get the news.
“I’d never done anything that big,” she shared.
Along with Elizabeth and Biggs, the comedy starred Alyson Hannigan, Chris Klein, Seann William Scott, Natasha Lyonne, and Eugene Levy, among others. Elizabeth quickly shot to fame following the film, and was bolstered further by her role in Scary Movie. She would continue her success with roles in Tomcats, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Thirteen Ghosts, Love Actually, and more. But she has since departed acting and turned her attention towards conservation efforts, founding the South African charity, the Shannon Elizabeth Foundation, which endeavors to protect endangered species and critical habitats.
Shannon Elizabeth in ‘American Pie 2’ (2001)
Credit: Everett Collection
Despite the career change, Elizabeth hinted that she would certainly be game to reprise her role of Nadia in an American Pie sequel.
“I would love to see a film where it’s all about Nadia back in her home country and what she does there, and following her around, seeing her day-to-day life now,” Elizabeth shared. “I think that would be so much fun.”
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Elizabeth’s declaration comes at the perfect time. Just last month, Biggs told the celebrity.land that he’s been considering the possibility of a return to the American Pie franchise.
“There’s always talks,” the actor divulged. “There’s always rumblings. I can tell you that I’d love to get back with everybody and do another one if it’s the right story.”
He added, “I think it would be so much fun. I love playing that character. I love working with those guys and gals. Everybody is just — it’s family, you know? So I’d love to do it. And honestly, I feel like enough people ask and there’s enough fans. Nostalgia is big right now.”
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