Watching Lindsay Lohan step back into the iconic role that defined her teenage years evokes both nostalgia and awe. In Freakier Friday, set to premiere August 8, she returns as Anna Coleman—now a mother and a teacher—stepping onto the set with a full, accomplished life behind her. This sequel isn’t just a reprise. It’s a reawakening: a grown‑up Lohan weaving motherhood, legacy, and buoyant humor into a story that’s both a tribute to the original and an entirely new chapter of her own narrative.
In conversation with Elle, Lohan speaks with unguarded warmth and delight about reprising the role. She describes stepping onto the Disney lot as “coming home” after twenty years, moving from the 12‑year‑old rising star of The Parent Trap to a seasoned actress, wife, and mother of a toddler son. She says the comfort of returning to a beloved character, combined with the evolution of both Anna and herself, created something truly special on set. And with Jamie Lee Curtis also stepping back into her role, the dynamic feels familiar, renewed, and quietly profound.
Lohan explains that this sequel felt different from the first one. Instead of just channeling Lindsay singing as herself, she’s now singing as Anna—her character—embracing layers of performance that reflect who she’s become. The original band, Pink Slip, reunites, and the experience felt surprisingly natural, despite years and motherhood in between. She laughs recalling the reunion with co‑star Christina Vidal, who had just had a baby too, marveling over how their dynamic still felt intact.
Emotion also runs deep behind the camera. Freakier Friday was largely filmed in Malibu and the Palisades, areas devastated earlier by wildfires that destroyed the original Freaky Friday house. Lohan describes the production as a love letter to California—a heartfelt homage to her roots and to the communities left in the wake of the fires. She shares that working closer to home, often returning nightly to tuck in her son, grounded her in ways she’d never experienced before as a young actress.
Motherhood itself becomes a lens through which Lohan views this sequel. She speaks candidly about her life in Dubai, where she and her husband have chosen to raise their son far from paparazzi and pressure, prioritizing privacy, peace, and routine. She credits that stability for her radiant energy on set and in life. Her morning rituals—journaling, green tea, Pilates—and practices like cold water therapy set the tone for both her creative work and her evolving public presence.
This version of Anna isn’t just a revived character—she’s a mentor, a wife, a woman learning to balance roles, and a mother navigating the complexity of her relationship with her daughter, who will share the body‑swap twist this time. Jamie Lee Curtis returns as Tess, now exploring her own maternal identity as Anna’s soon‑to‑be stepdaughter. Neither woman is defined by their roles alone but enriched by them, showing the layered identities that arise in the next generation of motherhood and family dynamics.
Working with director Nisha Ganatra and writer Jordan Weiss, Lohan emphasizes that the experience was “easygoing,” fun, and refreshingly free from cynicism. She shares that upon viewing the second cut, she was so moved she wanted to dance—an unexpected testament to the movie’s spirit. A touching, inclusive celebration of joy became the atmosphere on set, reflecting an artist at home in her craft and her life.
Her reflections are steeped in gratitude and grounded self-awareness. Reentering the Disney family after nearly two decades felt both surreal and fulfilling. With a stable base and a clear sense of purpose—making work that brings joy, reconnecting with a character she helped define, and nourishing her own identity—Lohan expresses a grounded optimism. She isn’t escaping the past; she’s building on it, reshaping it into something resonant, celebratory, and deeply human.
As summer approaches and Freakier Friday hits theaters, Lohan’s return sends a hopeful message. She’s not returning as a cautionary tale or celebrity headline. She’s returning as a mother, an artist, a woman who has persisted creatively and personally, navigating fame in a radically different moment. This sequel isn’t just another role—it’s a declaration that joy, maturity, and free‑spirited authenticity can coexist on screen. Anna Coleman is back, but so is Lindsay Lohan—and both feel wiser, more vibrant, and more free than ever.
