Last night Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd and Lea Thompson came together for the first time in nearly two decades to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of “Back To The Future.” But to some of us, it has only been two days since the trio was last on our TV screens because the first time-tripping tale is easily one of my generations’ most beloved.
And the love hasn’t escaped Lea’s attention — in fact, not a day goes by that at least one fan doesn’t gush about how much the franchise means to them. But it’s especially meaningful to Lea, as I found out upon chatting with her earlier this week.
In addition to learning about the impact “BttF” has had on her personal life, I found out which installment, scene and version of Lorraine is Lea’s favorite as well as why she probably couldn’t get cast to play Lorraine today.
PopWrap: Was this the kind of script you knew was special from the get-go?
Lea Thompson: Yea, definitely. When I read the script, I just totally got it. Loved my crazy, totally off kilter character. She was kind of subversive for the time. Of course, Mr. Spielberg was involved, which pretty much made it a job to get. I remember my audition, the screentest, everything like it was yesterday!
PW: What made Lorraine a character you connected with?
Lea: Sometimes things just fit. I just understood this old, unhappy Lorraine. Well, “old” — by now she’s younger than me [laughs] but at the time she was old [laughs]. I just knew her. Some characters click — I just understood all the aspects of this woman.
PW: Is it strange to you to be talking about the movie’s 25th anniversary?
Lea: [laughs] It’s insane. It’s just insane. I did a photoshoot with Michael [J. Fox] and we were looking at each other like, “25 years, how did that happen?” It feels like [we were on set just last week]. It’s heartbreaking. But time is so amazing that way, which is one of the great things about the movie. Time is so tenuous.
PW: If you had to pick, which is your favorite of the three movies?
Lea: I really like the first one the most. I just think it’s so perfectly constructed. Such a great movie. Also, I do the most in it, I guess that’s the actor in me [laughs].
PW: And what about your favorite scene?
Lea: For me, it’s such a tiny scene, but it’s when Biff is torturing Loraine in the car and my legs are kicking up in the petticoats and George opens the door and punches Biff and I fall in love with him … that scene is just so beautiful. That’s the moment that changes his life and the idea that conquering your fears can change your life is beautiful.
PW: Has a day gone by where someone hasn’t told you how much they love the movie?
Lea: Not really, it’s amazing. I’m so grateful and a fan too. It’s funny, I’m in Ireland and it’s playing in theaters now.
PW: Not because they just got it, right?
Lea: [laughs] No! It’s also playing on the big screen in England again. I got to take my kids to see it and I was so amazed.
PW: What did your kids think?
Lea: I think it’s inspiring. I’ve been doing almost all TV throughout their lives, so they were like, “wow mom, you were a movie star – that’s shocking!” [laughs] The impact of seeing someone on a giant screen is very different. I got a little more respect from them that night, and with two teenage girls, you gotta get it wherever you can!
PW: If you could revisit a character from your resume, who would it be?
Lea: I think it would be Lorraine – she could be anybody now. And it’s funny, I just put the version of her from “Back to the Future 2” on my reel because she’s supposed to be my age, basically, and no one would give me that part now. The drunken diva with the big boobs getting slapped around – no one would hire me to play that, so I put it on my reel because I want to play her again.
PW: And it’s crazy to think that movie took place in 2015 — man we were pretty far off about the future, huh?
Lea: I know, I was saying that to Bob [Zemeckis] — enough with the flying cars. That’s never gonna happen! Was it really 2015?
PW: Yea, we were so cocky about our ability to invent!
Lea: [laughs] We didn’t guess the internet, we still had faxes in that one. That’s always the hardest thing – doing the future. I don’t know why anyone thought we wouldn’t want to eat anymore, or that we’d be walking around in white plastic. Didn’t anybody realize that cotton is always the best way to go? [laughs]
PW: That food rehydrater was pretty boss though.
Lea: It was Pizza Hut, right? I remember being annoyed about that, telling them, “I do not want to do a commercial about Pizza Hut!”
PW: Yea, they weren’t so subtle about the product placement.
Lea: It was not very subtle at all! There’s a giant J.C. Penny in the first one that I wish they could digitally erase. How much money did they make off that one?
“Back to the Future: 25th Anniversary Trilogy” is now available on Blu-ray and DVD, click here to buy!
Photo: WireImage