Lizzie McGuire Debuted 25 Years Ago: Guest Star Stories, BTS Details

It’s hard to believe that almost 25 years ago, Disney Channel fans discovered Hilary DuffIt is Lizzie McGuire.

The hit show, which aired from 2001 to 2004, featured Duff in the role of 13-year-old Lizzie McGuire as she attempted to deal with the personal and social issues of adolescence. He quickly developed a cult fan base who latched onto the series’ authentic storytelling, fun comedic moments and meaningful lessons about growth.

The moment

While Nickelodeon was launched star after star in the late 90s – Melissa Joan Hart (Clarissa explains everything), Larisa Oleynik (The secret world of Alex Mack), Amanda Bynes (Amanda’s Show) — Disney Channel was catching up.

But on January 12, 2001, there was a real contender thanks to a sweet and rather awkward 13-year-old named Lizzie McGuire. Played by the equally attractive Duff, she charmed the audience, who recounted her clumsy adventures. “She really didn’t have a ‘place’. She wasn’t popular, and she wasn’t an idiot,” Duff recalled of the character in 2018. “Girls needed someone like that to look up to. And that’s also really who I was at that time in my life.

Who was involved

Lindsay Lohan auditioned to play Lizzie, but Duff was a home run. Lalaine played the role of Lizzie’s best friend, Miranda, with Adam Lambert as possible love interest Gordo.

As for the McGuires, Jake Thomas played the irritating younger brother Matt, with Hallie Todd And Robert Carradine as Lizzie’s parents.

“There’s a serious love for the show and the characters. For a lot of adults today, we were with them during their formative years,” says Thomas, 35. We. “Our stories and our faces are ingrained in their memory, and that’s truly a beautiful thing.” Fun fact: A tradition started before the table read for “the producers, the writers, everyone,” he says, to sing the boppy theme song.

Why we remember

In a unique twist, Lizzie had an animated version of herself to express her inner thoughts. But in many ways, Lizzie was like We: the mortification of the first bra, the agony of middle school photo days, and (long ago) the conflict resulting from miscommunication with instant messaging.

Key details

Let’s not forget the guest stars! Thomas remembers Aerosmith Steven Tyler asking to join us (he was playing Santa Claus!) to score points for Dad with his children. “They only needed him for a few hours, and he’d say, ‘No, I want to be here all day.’

Aaron Carter appeared after the show’s writers presented him with the concept – during his 13th birthday party. “Hilary had a huge crush on him, it was obvious after that night,” the writer wrote. Nina G. Bar language reminds We. “So I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be adorable if they had a cute kiss?’ » That’s where we came up with the idea for mistletoe. (The two ended up dating IRL!)

The consequences

Before Emilie in Paris, it was Lizzie in Rome. In the years 2003 The Lizzie McGuire Movieshe pretended to be an Italian pop star because it’s “What Dreams Are Made Of” (her signature song!).

Years later, Disney+ attempted a revival, but creative differences led to his be canceled before one of We seen only one episode. “There were just disagreements about how far we could take it,” Duff, 38, said in November. “I wasn’t trying to make her wake up and do bangs… but she was a normal 30-year-old woman.”

A new perspective

With 65 episodes on Disney+, new generations of tweens are discovering Lizzie.

“The slang changes, the technology changes, but the things they were going through don’t change. Feeling left out or fighting with your friend – those things still happen,” Bargiel says.

Where are they now?

Much of the cast, like Lalaine, Lamberg and Ashlie Brillault (the enemy Kate), have left Hollywood behind. Clayton Snyder (cool classmate Ethan) became a professional water polo player!

Duff, meanwhile, took on adult roles In Younger And How I met your fatheramong others. On February 20, 2026, she released her sixth studio album, Luck… or something like that.

Thomas is, in a way, still close to Lizzie: “I do a lot of commercials and promotions for children. »