Whatever Happened To Lilly From The Princess Diaries?
A dark horse box office smash, "The Princess Diaries" is best known as Anne Hathaway's feature film debut, as well as the movie that brought Julie Andrews out of her semi-retirement from acting. When Heather Matarazzo joined the cast as Lilly Moscovitz, she brought her indie credentials to the popcorn flick. For her role in Todd Solondz's 1995 pitch-black comedy "Welcome to the Dollhouse," Matarazzo earned an Independent Spirit Award for best debut performance.
As Mia's opinionated best friend, Matarazzo's Lilly belongs to the pantheon of Hollywood's great on-screen best friends, bringing a healthy dose of cynicism and spunk to "The Princess Diaries." She also hosts the iconic fictional radio show, "Shut Up and Listen with Lilly Moscovitz."
In the years since "The Princess Diaries" and its 2004 sequel, Matarazzo has netted roles in a number of indie films, as well as single-episode appearances in shows like "Law & Order" and "Stalker." Here's what else the actress has been up to.
Heather Matarazzo has been open about her Hollywood struggles
Since 2001, Heather Matarazzo has continued to work in film, especially indie projects that recall the scrappy, low-budget flick, "Welcome to the Dollhouse." She reunited with "Princess Diaries" co-star Mandy Moore for the 2004 black comedy "Saved!" and also had roles in "Sisters," "Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot," and "Mangus!"
Matarazzo has emerged as a low-key scream queen, having secured roles in "Scream 3" and the second installment of the disturbing "Hostel" franchise. In 2022, the actress reprised her role as Randy Meeks' (Jamie Kennedy) sister, Martha, in "Scream." In addition to her film work, Matarazzo has also had multi-episode arcs on "Exes and Ohs," "The L Word," and "Grey's Anatomy."
Despite some recognizable performances over the years, Matarazzo hasn't reached the same heights as her "Princess Diaries" co-star Anne Hathaway, and she's been candid about the challenges of working in Hollywood. "Most people think that I probably get paid a lot of money, but I really don't and most working actors don't," Matarazzo told The Guardian in 2017. She has struggled to stay afloat, despite side gigs like teaching and co-writing scripts. "There is this 'untouchable' and made-up image of actors, where they live this extravagant, beautiful life. But in reality, it's just not the experience."
With a third "Princess Diaries" rumored to be on the horizon, hopefully, viewers can check in on the grown-up Lilly Moscovitz, and Matarazzo can get that much-deserved paper.