Mia Sara, known for playing Sloane Peterson in the 1986 classic "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," has opened up about her negative experience on set, four decades after the film became a pop culture phenomenon. In an interview with The Sunday Times published Saturday, the actress admitted that despite the movie's enduring popularity, her time making it was far from enjoyable.
"I don't really give interviews because making 'Ferris Bueller' was not that good an experience for me," Sara, now 59, told the outlet. "But I'm very aware of what a precious thing this movie is, and I don't want to disappoint people. But I didn't get along well with [director] John [Hughes]."
Clashes with Director John Hughes
Sara described Hughes, who died in 2009 at age 59, as "a strange guy" and explained why she believes he was "frustrated" with her during production. "He wanted us all to hang out together and to introduce us to the French New Wave films. But the others were seasoned actors, and I was a snotty New York kid and had seen all those movies, so he was frustrated in that desire," she said.
The actress also reflected on her own shortcomings, admitting she lacked the "emotional maturity to deal with other people's egos, or my own" at the time. Sara was just 17 when she was cast, while her co-stars Matthew Broderick (Ferris), Jennifer Grey (Jeannie), and Alan Ruck (Cameron) were 23, 25, and 29 respectively.
A Career That Didn't Bring Happiness
Beyond the film, Sara expressed mixed feelings about her acting career. While there are some projects she is "really proud" of, she ultimately feels it was "not a happy career for me." She also revealed to People magazine last year that she hadn't watched "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" in years and doesn't keep in touch with former cast members, aside from a virtual reunion in 2020.
