Sandra Bullock’s instant hit movie “Miss Congeniality” premiered 25 years ago, making it the perfect time to look at the cast then and now.
“Miss Congeniality” follows Bullock as an FBI agent who must go undercover as a beauty pageant contestant in order to stop an impending bomb threat. According to People, the film was originally very different, and the director, Donald Petrie, didn’t initially care for the script. Luckily, he was able to make some changes.
“I must say I didn’t care for the script all that much, mainly because it was trying to spoof pageants. I felt that it had been done before, but if you treat a pageant real, it spoofs itself,” Petrie told People. One change to the script came early on in the plot, when Bullock’s character is initially asked to go undercover.
Instead of setting it in her living room, Petrie asked to move the scene to the FBI gym so Bullock could show off some martial arts skills. For Petrie, this change showed “that Sandra is the last person you’d think of to go in a pageant.”
Here are the main cast members of “Miss Congeniality” then and now.
Sandra Bullock
GettyAlthough Bullock’s lead character, Gracie Hart, begins the film lacking care for her appearance, a quick makeover and pageant coaching session soon reveal her stunning beauty and poise.
GettyToday, Bullock looks like she hasn’t aged a day. She has continued acting, even winning an Academy Award for her 2009 film “The Blind Side.” She recently filmed “Practical Magic 2,” which is set to come out in 2026, according to Deadline.
Benjamin Bratt
GettyBenjamin Bratt plays Eric Matthews, the FBI agent who initially suggests Gracie go undercover as a beauty pageant contestant. At the end of the film, Eric and Gracie realize they have feelings for each other and share a romantic kiss.
GettySince “Miss Congeniality,” Bratt has become an absolute silver fox. Most recently, he starred in three episodes of “Andor” on Disney+.
William Shatner
GettyAlthough William Shatner may be best known for his work on “Star Trek,” he also played Stan Fields, the pageant’s emcee. Shatner’s character played a pivotal role in one of the film’s most iconic moments. During the question portion of the competition, Stan asks Miss Rhode Island to “describe [her] perfect date.”
Miss Rhode Island misunderstands the question, and instead of describing a romantic situation, she answers, “I’d have to say April 25 because it’s not too hot and not too cold. All you need is a light jacket.”
GettyToday, Shatner remains as spritely as ever. In addition to his acting and voice roles, he competed on “The Masked Singer” season eight as the Knight.
Heather Burns
GettyHeather Burns played Miss Rhode Island herself, Cheryl Frasier. Cheryl wins the pageant and is crowned Miss United States, although Gracie realizes the bomb is in the crown and tries to stop Cheryl from donning it.
GettySince her time in iconic romance movies like “Miss Congeniality” and “You’ve Got Mail,” Burns has taken her talents to the stage. In 2024, she starred in the off-Broadway play “Hold On to Me Darling,” according to Playbill.
Michael Caine
GettyMichael Caine won an Oscar for “Hannah and Her Sisters,” later taking his talents to “Miss Congeniality.” In the film, he plays the all-important beauty pageant coach Victor Melling, whose job it is to whip Gracie into shape so no one will realize she’s undercover.
Getty18 years after “Miss Congeniality,” Caine announced his retirement. Luckily for fans, that didn’t last long, as Caine agreed to come out of retirement to reprise his role in an upcoming sequel to “The Last Witch Hunter.”
Candice Bergen
GettyCandice Bergen plays Kathy Morningside, the competition director with a suspicious past in the pageant world. She ultimately becomes one of the main suspects in Gracie’s investigation.
GettySince “Miss Congeniality,” Bergen has had an illustrious career. In 2018, CBS rebooted Bergen’s iconic sitcom, “Murphy Brown,” for one season. She also starred in both “Book Club” and, more recently, the sequel, “Book Club: The Next Chapter,” where she performed alongside the late Diane Keaton.
