In the hierarchy of Hallmark Channel stardom, it’s tough to top Lacey Chabert.
The “Party of Five” alum has been granted the nickname “Queen of Hallmark,” having starred in more than 40 movies for the network since making her Hallmark debut in 2010’s “Elevator Girl.”
Currently seen in Hallmark+ series “Paris Is Always a Good Idea,” Chabert recently spoke with People to recount a recent encounter she’d had with a fan that brought back memories of one of her earliest experiences in showbiz.
‘Les Miserables’ Memories
As Chabert recalled, she’s often presented with various photos and memorabilia to autograph, but was recently given an item that proved to be a nostalgic blast from the past.
“I recently signed a playbill from when I was in ‘Les Miserables,’” she told the magazine.
“I was in the show on Broadway from 1991 to ’94,” she recalled. “I played young Cosette and young Éponine, and I understudied young Gavroche, which I got to play unexpectedly on my 10th birthday.”
‘It Meant So Much to Me’
As Chabert admitted, seeing that vintage playbill really took her back to what had been a pivotal point in her life.
“And I had a lovely fan come up to me and have me sign the playbill,” Chabert told the magazine.
“They realized that they had saved it, and it was from the time I was in the show,” she continued. “It meant so much to me. It brings back the best memories. I love the show so much.”
‘Mean Girls’ Continues to Resonate
As Chabert told People, fans who approach her often reference her myriad Hallmark movies or her role on beloved Fox drama “Party of Five.”
However, the majority of fans she meets remember her best as Gretchen Wieners from the 2004 comedy “Mean Girls.”
“I mean, of course, if I find myself wearing pink on a Wednesday, everyone’s like, ‘Hey, wearing pink,’” she said, referring to one of the iconic rules of the film’s popular group of girls known as the Plastics.
“Or if I’m wearing pink, and it’s not a Wednesday, I get in big trouble,” she jokingly added.
She also revealed that fans will frequently quote one Gretchen’s most iconic lines of dialogue to her.
“People stop and say, ‘That’s so fetch.’ People used to say that to me a lot, and my daughter — when she was really little — she didn’t understand it ’cause she hadn’t seen the movie yet,” Chabert explained.
“And then once she finally saw it, she’s like, ‘That’s why people say that to you when we’re out at a restaurant. Oh, I get it,'” Chabert added.
A ‘Surreal’ Experience
During a recent appearance on NBC’s “Today” to promote “Paris Is Always a Good Idea,” Chabert admitted that being a mother herself brought her to an epiphany about her “Les Mis” experience.
“It is surreal as a parent to see my daughter the same age,” she marveled, remembering her taking to the stage each night when she was her daughter’s age.
“It’s made me appreciate more how protective my parents were,” Chabert added. “Now I understand why they were so strict, too. I get it now.”
