Mia Sara, honestly, was all over the ‘80s movie scene. You say “iconic,” and it’s hard not to think of her dreamy turn as Princess Lili in Legend, all fairy tale forests and Tim Curry in demon makeup, or her absolutely classic role as Sloane Peterson in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off—seriously, who didn’t want to skip school and jump in a red Ferrari with her and Ferris? Not just a pretty face, either. She popped up in a bunch of other flicks, like A Stranger Among Us, where she played a Hasidic Jew—kind of a deep cut, but worth a watch if you’re into early ‘90s crime dramas. And then there’s Timecop. Yeah, the Jean-Claude Van Damme one. She played his wife, which, let’s be real, was probably a wild ride on set. Her off-screen life? Also a bit of a movie. She married Jason Connery—you know, Sean Connery’s son—after working together on Bullet to Beijing. They had a kid, Dashiell Quinn Connery, in ‘97, but split in 2002. Later, she married Brian Henson, as in “son of Jim Henson,” the Muppets guy. Talk about Hollywood royalty. They’ve got a daughter together, Amelia Jane, born in 2005. These days, Mia keeps things low-key, not chasing the spotlight much, but her ‘80s and ‘90s roles still get love from fans who grew up on those movies. She’s got that “you know her when you see her” energy—somehow always both familiar and a little mysterious.
movies triviannTurns out, there’s this little behind-the-scenes tidbit from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) that’s just too good. In that classic taxicab scene, where Sloane Peterson (played by Mia Sara) bursts out laughing, it wasn’t all acting. Apparently, Matthew Broderick actually went full method and tickled her feet and knees during filming to get a real, unfiltered giggle out of her. Wild, right? That’s why her laugh looks so genuine—because it totally was. Directors and actors will do some pretty odd stuff to get the perfect shot, but hey, it worked. You probably never thought a spontaneous tickling session was behind one of those memorable movie moments, but Hollywood’s all about those weird little tricks. Next time you watch that scene, you’ll know the secret—and, honestly, it kind of makes the whole thing even better. Little details like that are what make movies stick with you.
reference content nMia’s whole life is basically a series of cringe-worthy blunders—like, if there’s a way to say the wrong thing at the wrong time, she’s already done it. She’s the queen of awkward, and somehow manages to put her foot in her mouth even when she’s not saying much. One day she finds out she’s actually a princess (yeah, wild), and suddenly she’s trying to juggle royal lessons, a strict grandma who’s basically etiquette personified, and the usual high school chaos. Mia’s friends are a mixed bag—some supportive, some super jealous. There’s a makeover, obviously, and the press goes nuts. Dodging snobby mean girls and learning to walk in heels, Mia fumbles her way toward figuring out if she’s cut out for the whole royalty thing or if she’s just meant to be her awkward, lovable self.
June 19, 1967
5′ 4″ (1.63 m)
Konidela Ram Charan
Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Yes, Amelia Jane Henson
Jerome Sarapocciello and Surekha
58 years old