Summary
Easy Ais one of thequintessential rom-coms of the 2010s, partly due to itsall-star cast, which includes a two-time Academy Award-winning actress and a handful of Emmy Award-winning performers.The 2010 teen romantic comedy, directed by Will Gluck and written by Bert V. Royal, is partially inspired by Nathaniel Hawthorne’s renowned 1850 novelThe Scarlet Letteras it depicts a teenager, played by Emma Stone, who becomes known as the school’s resident tramp. Similar to Hester inThe Scarlet Letter,Easy A’s protagonist dons a scarlet “A” on her clothing to embrace her perceived identity.
Emma Stone was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for her performance as Olive Penderghast inEasy Abut lost to Annette Bening, who won for her role inThe Kids Are All Right.
Easy Awas a critical and commercial success when it premiered in 2010,as it received positive reviews and grossed $75 million against an $8 million budget. Theteen movie based on classic literaturewas nominated for various awards, even winning a Critics' Choice Award for Best Comedy Film. Reports regarding anEasy Asequel or spinoff began spreading in 2019. But other than a couple of cast members teasing that another movie is potential, updates surrounding the rumored sequel have been minimal since then. Given that many originalEasy Aactors are booked and busy, it’s probably difficult to plan a sequel.
Emma Stone As Olive Penderghast
Date Of Birth: June 28, 2025
Actress:Emily Stone (Emma Stone is her stage name) was born in Scottsdale, Arizona, and developed a passion for acting at a young age. When she was only 15 years old, Stone convinced her mother to move with her to Los Angeles so that she could pursue a career in Hollywood. Stone began with guest roles on television shows such asMediumandMalcolm in the Middlebefore she started building prominence by booking bigger parts in movies likeSuperbad,The Rocker,The House Bunny, andZombieland. However,Stone’s true breakthrough came when she starred as Olive inEasy A.
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Battle of the Sexes
Poor Things
Bella Baxter
Emma Stone has won two Best Actress Oscars — one for her performance as Mia inLa La Landand the second for her role as Bella inPoor Things.
Character:Emma Stone stars as Olive Penderghast inthe 2010 romantic comedyEasy A.As mentioned above,Olive is a 17-year-old who gets labeled as the tramp at her high schoolwhen she helps out one of her friends who is bullied for being gay. She pretends to have sex with him to boost his status, and when other boys find out what she did, they are Olive to do the same for them.
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Penn Badgley As Todd
Date Of Birth: June 21, 2025
Actor:Penn Badgley was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and started acting when he was a child. He was involved with his local theater, but like hisEasy Acostar Emma Stone, Badgley and his mother moved to California when he was young so that he could pursue an acting career. In the early 2000s, the young actor notably played Phillip Chancellor IV inThe Young and the Restless, butBadgley’s breakout role was, of course, asDan Humphrey in the CW’s teen dramaGossip Girl.
The Young and the Restless
You
Joe Goldberg
Character:Penn Badgley plays Todd,Olive’s main love interest,inEasy A.Todd was Olive’s childhood crush who she later reconnects with after she gains notoriety at school. He’s one of the only people who doesn’t believe the rumors about Olive and helps her overcome her newfound reputation as the school tramp.
Amanda Bynes As Marianne Bryant
Date Of Birth: Aug 13, 2025
Actress:Amanda Bynes was born in Thousand Oaks, California, a suburb just outside of Los Angeles. She began acting as a child, appearing in several commercials on television and stage productions. When she was only 10 years old,Bynes gained a spot in the main cast of the popular Nickelodeon sketch comedy seriesAll That,which prompted her breakthrough in Hollywood. Bynes landed her ownAll ThatspinoffThe Amanda Showwhen she was 13, and her career took off from there. Unfortunately,Bynes quit acting in 2010 after starring inEasy A.
Easy A
Marianne Bryant
Character:Amanda Bynes stars as Marianne Bryant,the villain in the rom-comEasyA.Marianne is a devout Christian who leads a church youth groupat Olive’s high school and harshly judgesEmma Stone’s rolefor her alleged promiscuity. Bynes' character all but leads the charge against Olive throughoutEasy A.
Aly Michalka As Rhiannon Abernathy
Date Of Birth: June 06, 2025
Actress:Aly Michalka was born in Torrance, California, and, similar to many of herEasy Acastmates, started acting when she was young. However, while she was pursuing an acting career, Michalka also dabbled in music.Michalka’s breakout role came early in her career when she was cast as Keely Teslow inPhil of the Futureon Disney Channel in 2004. The show ran for two years, but it led to many other opportunities for Michalka. She starred in a couple ofDisney Channel Original Moviesand launched her music career as a duo with her younger sister, AJ Michalka, called Aly & AJ.
Phil of the Future
Two and a Half Men
iZombie
Peyton Charles
Character:Aly Michalka portraysOlive’s best friend,Rhiannon Abernathy, inEasy A.Rhiannon is seemingly one of Olive’s only friends at the beginning of the 2010 movie. But once rumors start spreading about Olive, she fights with Rhiannon, who then joins Marianne’s church group in harassing Olive.
Thomas Haden Church As Mr. Griffith
Date Of Birth: July 03, 2025
Actor:Thomas Haden Church was born in Woodland, California, and studied at the University of North Texas after graduating high school. He got his start in the entertainment business via voiceover and radio work, later moving to California to seek acting opportunities.Church’s breakthrough came when he booked the role of Lowell Mather inWingson NBC.
Ned and Stacey
George of the Jungle
Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2
TBA
Thomas Haden Church was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Jack Cole in the 2004 comedy-dramaSideways.
Character:Mr. Griffith, played by Thomas Haden Church, isOlive’s English teacherinthe underrated 2010s rom-comEasy A.Church’s character is Olive’s favorite teacher and one of her only confidants in the movie, which makes what she learns about his wife all the more devastating.
Lisa Kudrow As Mrs. Griffith
Date Of Birth: August 22, 2025
Actress:Lisa Kudrow was born in Los Angeles, California, and later graduated from Vassar College with a bachelor’s degree in biology. However, Kudrow soon switched career paths and joined an improv and sketchy comedy group before auditioning for parts in television shows. Kudrow was notably cast as Roz Doyle in the NBC sitcomFrasierbut producers re-cast the role and gave it to Peri Gilpin after shooting the pilot episode.Kudrow getting fired fromFrasierwas probably the best thing to happen to her, though, because if it didn’t happen,Kudrow never would have played Phoebe Buffay inFriends.
Lisa Kudrow was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series at the Emmys for her performance as Phoebe inFriendssix times, winning once in 1998.
Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion
Booksmart
Charmaine Antsler
Character:Lisa Kudrow stars as Mrs. Griffith inEasy A.Mrs. Griffith is the school guidance counselorat Olive’s high school and Mr. Griffith’s wife. However, her marriage is threatened when Olive learns about one of her scandalous and horrifying secrets.
Patricia Clarkson As Rosemary Penderghast
Date Of Birth: August 25, 2025
Actress:Patricia Clarkson was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and studied drama and earned her bachelor’s degree at Fordham University. She later received a Master of Fine Arts degree at the Yale School of Drama before moving to New York City, where she quickly landed her first role in the Broadway production ofThe House of Blue Leaves.Clarkson also worked on films such asHigh Art, The Green Mile,andThe Pledge.Clarkson’s breakthrough came when she guest starred as Sarah O’Connor inSix Feet Underon HBO.
Patricia Clarkson won two Emmys for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Sarah O’Connor inSix Feet Under.
Sharp Objects
Adora Crellin
Character:Patricia Clarkson plays Rosemary Penderghast in the 2010intelligent teen movieEasy A.Rosemary is Olive’s motherin the rom-com. She is quite supportive of her daughter as she is quite open-minded and free-spirited, making Clarkson’s character one ofthe best movie moms.
Stanley Tucci As Dill Penderghast
Date Of Birth: June 15, 2025
Actor:Stabley Tucci was born in Peekskill, New York, and was very active in his high school’s drama club before graduating and studying drama at the State University of New York at Purchase. After he graduated from college, Tucci worked as a model and auditioned for (and won) several supporting roles in films likePrizzi’s Honor,Road to Perdition, andThe Terminal.Despite appearing in numerous big movies and television shows beforehand,Tucci’s breakthrough came when he played Nigel Kipling inThe Devil Wears Prada.Ultimately, many ofStanley Tucci’s movieshave been successful and critically acclaimed.
Feud: Bette and Joan
Citadel
Bernard Orlick
Character:Stanley Tucci stars as Dill Penderghast inEasy A.Dill is Emma Stone’s character’s fatherand Patricia Clarkson’s character’s husband. Like his wife, Dill is very open-minded and free-spirited, making his character one of the more comedic elements of the 2010 movie.
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Easy A Supporting Cast & Characters
Dan Byrd as Brandon- Dan Byrd plays Brandon, the original boy who Olive helps out inEasy A.Viewers might recognize Byrd from his roles as Carter Farrell inHilary Duff’s 2004 movieA Cinderella Storyand as Travis Cobb in the ABC/TBS sitcomCougar Town.
Cam Gigandet as Micah- Micah, portrayed by Cam Gigandet, is Marianne’s boyfriend who is a member of her church group in the 2010 rom-com.Gigandet is most known for his appearances inThe O.C.andTwilight.
Malcolm McDowell as Principal Gibbons- Malcolm McDowell stars as Principal Gibbons in theEasy Acast. Before appearing in the romantic comedy, McDowell starred inIf….,A Clockwork Orange(his most noteworthy role),Star Trek Generations, The Artist,andEntourage.
Mahaley Patel as Nina Howell- Mahaley Patel plays Nina Howell, one of Marianne’s church group members who bullies Olive, inEasy A.Some might recognize Patel fromThe DUFFandAwkward.
Cast
Inspired by The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Easy A stars Emma Stone as Olive Penderghast, a young high school student who suddenly finds herself in the middle of a rumor mill when a lie she tells her best friend about losing her virginity spirals out of control. Penn Badgley, Amanda Bynes, Thomas Haden Church, Patricia Clarkson, and Stanley Tucci are part of the supporting cast.
