Below, the trio get together and tell EW about filming the OG women’s raunchfest.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: TheSweetest Thingwas really the forerunner to movies likeBridemaidsandGirls Trip.
Did it hit you guys at the time that you were pushing boundaries?
Credit: Everett Collection
CAMERON DIAZ:It was.
APPLEGATE:We were going to push way more boundaries and they got scared.
We couldn’t say ck and things like that.
And then the penis song went away.
I was like, “It’s Cameron Diaz and Christina Applegate, are you fing kidding me?
Yes, I will have a penis in my mouth!”
I really do think I was cast by default.
The whole costume with the boyfriend in the changing room.
BLAIR:The elephant!
That was one of [director Roger Kumble’s] crazy ideas on the day.
I don’t think that was in the script.
APPLEGATE:So much fun.
Let’s start by talking about the penis song.
Was that in the original script you read?
And if so, what was your original reaction to it?
DIAZ:It was in the original and it was probably what made me want to do the movie.
BLAIR:[Laughs]
DIAZ:Just the opportunity.
APPLEGATE:I think it was the same for all of us.
DIAZ:How many other scripts did you guys ever read where that was a possibility?
DIAZ:Zero, right?
You do start to fantasize, right, about what it could be?
APPLEGATE:We would talk about, “Oh, the production it’s going to be.”
BLAIR:There was so much dance rehearsal, and I can’t dance at all.
Christina and Cameron are so gifted.
Even at the end, even when we were shooting it, I had no idea what was happening.
DIAZ:I just love all the extras.
Remember that older woman who was like 90 years old and could do the splits?
Everybody that was in the restaurant was on board.
Everyone was just having such a good time.
BLAIR:Oh God, I remember that.
How much rehearsal was there for this?
And how long did it ultimately take to film?
APPLEGATE:A substantial amount.
So it did take a while, if I remember correctly.
DIAZ:By the way, I love that description: Pedestrian and spectacular.
I feel like that’s what the whole movie isvery pedestrian, but really spectacular.
APPLEGATE:It’s how I describe my life, babe.
DIAZ:You’re winning.
APPLEGATE:I’m winning at being pedestrian and spectacular.
DIAZ:You’re just spectacular.
Were you guys surprised when the song only ended up as part of the unrated version of the movie?
Let’s do it!"
APPLEGATE:That was, what, 18 years ago?
Didn’t we make it before 2002?
You guys were at my wedding.
DIAZ:Yes, you did.
Wow, that was a long time ago.
I came from doingGangs of New Yorkand doingVanilla Skyat the same time, finished those and came back.
Because we’re not getting the same performance, period, no matter what.
It’s okay, don’t worry.
Let’s talk about the glory hole scene.
What do you guys recall from filming that scene in particular?
You’d be getting it all down your leg!
Yeah, so you might apparently lift your leg and pee in a urinal.
Had the water been aimed a little bit lower, we all would’ve had a better day.
DIAZ:[Laughs]
APPLEGATE:But I was literally shot across that room.
We were holding onto each other and falling.
DIAZ:It was absurd.
But at the same time, you’re trying to hold onto some tiny grain of dignity.
Everything that happened, happened at the same level.
We didn’t just sing a song in a restaurant, we got everybody involved in it.
Same thing when Selma had a dick stuck in her throat.
The whole building is there.
This is the world we’re existing in, where everything goes this far, you know?
I appreciate that about the film.
For everything that it is, I appreciate how far Roger was willing to go.
DIAZ:Yes, exactly.
And everybody was on board, everybody was there.
I had a great time.
What was it like shooting that scene?
He was like, “This scene needs something.
Those girls are having such a great time.
What’s a great time for you?”
It was really absurd.
I remember being really comfortable.
It was so cozy.
DIAZ:you’re free to see how people have a thing for furries?
I’m not a furry girl, but I can see the allure.
It was really cozy.
It was a really comfy suit.
He was doing all the heavy lifting, obviously.
I just had to bounce around and say this line, which makes me happy.
What do you remember of filming that?
APPLEGATE:Easy to do!
DIAZ:[Laughs] Yup!
I think I pushed your head down quite a bit, too, Cameron.
DIAZ:Yes, you did.
APPLEGATE:Because I showered that day.
It was one of those things that I had never done something quite that far.
I’m discovering so much about myself right now.
I am severely disgusting and loving every second of it!"
It was a true awakening for me.
When you think about it, it was just non-stop.
When you take the dress to the cleaners and it has semen on it.
The poor guy is like, “What is this?”
You were like, “No, no, no, no!”
BLAIR:I remember your mom came in with children!
APPLEGATE:Yeah, that was my mom, [Nancy Priddy].
BLAIR:That was so ridiculous.
I turned beet red.
I cringed a lot.
I can’t watch that.
DIAZ:It was one scene after the next, honestly.
It’s like a barrage.
BLAIR:The Sweetest Thingis relentless.
Selma, what was the more technical aspects of that scene?
How was that filmed?
BLAIR:I had a banana in my mouth.
I have really, really bad TMJ and that was so painful to stay like that all day.
But I had the whole community behind me, a Palestinian, an Israeli, the firefighters.
I remember Cameron so soothingly stroking my hair.
It was a very
DIAZ:You were really in it.
BLAIR:It was really a dramatic scene for me.
I didn’t view it as a comedy.
It was so pathetic, and I still have pain from it.
In fact, I’m going to go get botox in my jaw today, because it still hurts.
[Laughs]
DIAZ:I remember how bad it was for you.
You were really, really in discomfort.
DIAZ:I know the first scene that I filmed was walking up the street for the opening.
Shake your ass, watch yourself.
APPLEGATE:Yeah, that was my first day, too, with you.
DIAZ:That was the first one.
I shot that day, too, but I don’t remember what.
APPLEGATE:We were dancing.
DIAZ:There was a lot happening on that hill.
In heels, always.
It was fun to shoot in San Francisco.
APPLEGATE:Yeah, that was nice.
What was each of your favorite moments from the movie or from actually filming it?
BLAIR:I remember the club scenes.
APPLEGATE:And we were going nuts, because I’m an addict.
BLAIR:We just kept eating these turtles and laughing.
You were wearing these red pants and yelling, “I don’t care!
I don’t care!”
You were so cool.
DIAZ:That was a lot of fun.
Do you remember that song?
“You don’t own me!”
This is an awful moment in my life."
DIAZ:That’s right!
APPLEGATE:The most foul song of all time.
DIAZ:We were very into foul songs during that time, like “Peaches.”
We really just let it loose, I felt like.
You’re right, it was an awakening.
APPLEGATE:To our demise.
DIAZ:I feel like everything got in there.
APPLEGATE:I remember a lot of stuff was taken out of the script.
But the original script had way more stuff in it that was toeing that line.
They just wanted to be careful that we didn’t completely offend anyone.
I remember being heartbroken about some of that stuff.
The only thing really cut was the song that we shot that didn’t get in there.
And what was it like filming the movie montage scene?
The last shot of the whole movie was me pulling my extensions out and screaming at the crew.
That was my favorite part of the part at the end.
APPLEGATE:You mean when we dressed up as all those characters?
For me, my life-long fantasy was to be inFlashdance, so doing theFlashdancething was fun.
DIAZ:You’re such a goodFlashdancedancer, though.
APPLEGATE:Lifelong dream, man.
BLAIR:I agree, great dancer there.
I can’t dance.
I’m always like, “Wow.
All right, I know you now.
I know you.”
Have the three of you reunited since filming?
DIAZ:Goddamn it, why not?
APPLEGATE:I don’t know.
You guys tell me.
BLAIR:Our kids are friends.
DIAZ:Maybe I should, you know, I mean, I’m down.
I’m literally doing nothing.
APPLEGATE:I’m literally doing nothing, too!
I’m semi-retired, I haven’t worked for years.
I’m a mom, that’s what we do.
So I’m around, man.
DIAZ:That’s so awesome.
I’m totally down.
BLAIR:I would love it.
Did you end up cracking a lot during this movie?
DIAZ:I mean, this movie was so penis-heavy.
If you think about it, [there was] penis-colada.
[singing] Do you like penis-colada?
Christina and I had that.
BLAIR:Glory holes.
DIAZ:Selma got a penis ring caught on her uvula, because that’s really what happened.
BLAIR:Also, that penis that made me really sore the morning after.
DIAZ:It’s such a penis movie.
APPLEGATE:As they call it in the business, dick-heavy.
That’s what we call it in the entertainment businessit’s a dick-heavy movie.
DIAZ:By the way, you’re free to’t make that movie again now.
You could never make that movie.
APPLEGATE:It’s too tame.
IfThe Sweetest Thingwas going to be rebooted, who would you want to play your characters?
APPLEGATE:Yeah, me!
BLAIR:I’m not going to give that up to anyone!
APPLEGATE:They should doThe Sweetest Thing: The Geriatric Years.
DIAZ:Could you imagine?
Who would these girls be right now?
APPLEGATE:We’d be wearing flats, I’ll tell you that.
I’d be in flats.
DIAZ:I will tell you that is the truth.
APPLEGATE:Never in heels again.
BLAIR:And I will not
DIAZ:You’re not going to f a purple elephant?
BLAIR:There’s some things that come with age.
DIAZ:You don’t have to, you’ve already done it!
BLAIR:I’d have a daughter in it, and it’ll happen to her!
Or a son and it’ll happen to him!
I think we have a story line, guys.
I’m not retired.
This movie did not propel me to retirement status, so I’m in for the reboot.
I will f a purple elephant.
APPLEGATE:I’d come out of a retirement for it, too.
DIAZ:I’d do it.
BLAIR:I’ll see you girls on set!
