Easy A is one of the quintessential rom-coms of the 2010s, partly due to its all-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 novel The Scarlet Letter as it depicts a teenager, played by Emma Stone, who becomes known as the school’s resident tramp. Similar to Hester in The Scarlet Letter, Easy A‘s protagonist dons a scarlet “A” on her clothing to embrace her perceived identity.

Easy A was a critical and commercial success when it premiered in 2010, as it received positive reviews and grossed $75 million against an $8 million budget. The teen movie based on classic literature was nominated for various awards, even winning a Critics’ Choice Award for Best Comedy Film. Reports regarding an Easy A sequel 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 original Easy A actors are booked and busy, it’s probably difficult to plan a sequel.

Emma Stone As Olive Penderghast

Date Of Birth: November 6, 1988

• Active Since: 2004

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 as Medium and Malcolm in the Middle before she started building prominence by booking bigger parts in movies like Superbad, The Rocker, The House Bunny, and Zombieland. However, Stone’s true breakthrough came when she starred as Olive in Easy A.

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Character: Emma Stone stars as Olive Penderghast in the 2010 romantic comedy Easy A. As mentioned above, Olive is a 17-year-old who gets labeled as the tramp at her high school when 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.

Penn Badgley As Todd

Date Of Birth: November 1, 1986

• Active Since: 1999

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 his Easy A costar 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 in The Young and the Restless, but Badgley’s breakout role was, of course, as Dan Humphrey in the CW’s teen drama Gossip Girl.

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Character: Penn Badgley plays Todd, Olive’s main love interest, in Easy 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: April 3, 1986

• Years Active: 1993 – 2010

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 series All That, which prompted her breakthrough in Hollywood. Bynes landed her own All That spinoff The Amanda Show when she was 13, and her career took off from there. Unfortunately, Bynes quit acting in 2010 after starring in Easy A.

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Character: Amanda Bynes stars as Marianne Bryant, the villain in the rom-com Easy A. Marianne is a devout Christian who leads a church youth group at Olive’s high school and harshly judges Emma Stone’s role for her alleged promiscuity. Bynes’ character all but leads the charge against Olive throughout Easy A.

Aly Michalka As Rhiannon Abernathy

Date Of Birth: March 25, 1989

• Active Since: 2004

Actress: Aly Michalka was born in Torrance, California, and, similar to many of her Easy A castmates, 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 in Phil of the Future on Disney Channel in 2004. The show ran for two years, but it led to many other opportunities for Michalka. She starred in a couple of Disney Channel Original Movies and launched her music career as a duo with her younger sister, AJ Michalka, called Aly & AJ.

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Character: Aly Michalka portrays Olive’s best friend, Rhiannon Abernathy, in Easy 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 17, 1960

• Active Since: 1989

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 in Wings on NBC.

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Character: Mr. Griffith, played by Thomas Haden Church, is Olive’s English teacher in the underrated 2010s rom-com Easy 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: July 30, 1963

• Active Since: 1983

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 sitcom Frasier but producers re-cast the role and gave it to Peri Gilpin after shooting the pilot episode. Kudrow getting fired from Frasier was probably the best thing to happen to her, though, because if it didn’t happen, Kudrow never would have played Phoebe Buffay in Friends.

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Character: Lisa Kudrow stars as Mrs. Griffith in Easy A. Mrs. Griffith is the school guidance counselor at 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: December 29, 1959

• Active Since: 1985

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 of The House of Blue Leaves. Clarkson also worked on films such as High Art, The Green Mile, and The Pledge. Clarkson’s breakthrough came when she guest starred as Sarah O’Connor in Six Feet Under on HBO.

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Character: Patricia Clarkson plays Rosemary Penderghast in the 2010 intelligent teen movie Easy A. Rosemary is Olive’s mother in the rom-com. She is quite supportive of her daughter as she is quite open-minded and free-spirited, making Clarkson’s character one of the best movie moms.​​​

Stanley Tucci As Dill Penderghast

Date Of Birth: November 11, 1960

• Active Since: 1982

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 like Prizzi’s Honor, Road to Perdition, and The Terminal. Despite appearing in numerous big movies and television shows beforehand, Tucci’s breakthrough came when he played Nigel Kipling in The Devil Wears Prada. Ultimately, many of Stanley Tucci’s movies have been successful and critically acclaimed.

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Character: Stanley Tucci stars as Dill Penderghast in Easy A. Dill is Emma Stone’s character’s father and 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.

Easy A Supporting Cast & Characters

Dan Byrd as Brandon – Dan Byrd plays Brandon, the original boy who Olive helps out in Easy A. Viewers might recognize Byrd from his roles as Carter Farrell in Hilary Duff’s 2004 movie A Cinderella Story and as Travis Cobb in the ABC/TBS sitcom Cougar 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 in The O.C. and Twilight.

Malcolm McDowell as Principal Gibbons – Malcolm McDowell stars as Principal Gibbons in the Easy A cast. Before appearing in the romantic comedy, McDowell starred in If…., A Clockwork Orange (his most noteworthy role), Star Trek Generations, The Artist, and Entourage.

Mahaley Patel as Nina Howell – Mahaley Patel plays Nina Howell, one of Marianne’s church group members who bullies Olive, in Easy A. Some might recognize Patel from The DUFF and Awkward.