Honestly, it’s hard to believe it’s been nearly two decades since Shelley Darlington stumbled her way from the Playboy Mansion to a crumbling sorority house. When we look back at the cast of The House Bunny, it’s easy to dismiss the movie as just another 2008 mid-budget comedy. But that’s a mistake. This film was a massive incubator for talent that eventually dominated Hollywood.
Anna Faris was already a comedic heavyweight by the time she put on the platform heels, but for many of the "Zetas," this was the launchpad. You’ve got Oscar winners, sitcom royalty, and indie darlings all sharing the same screen in what was basically a pink-hued makeover movie.
It wasn't just a silly flick. It was a career-defining moment for a group of women who, at the time, were mostly unknowns. Let’s get into who they were then and what they’ve been up to since they stopped wearing those hideous beige cardigans.
Anna Faris as the Irreplaceable Shelley Darlington
You can't talk about the cast of The House Bunny without starting with the engine that made it run. Shelley Darlington. Faris has this specific brand of "genius-level stupidity" that is almost impossible to replicate. She plays Shelley with so much genuine heart that you actually forget how ridiculous the premise is.
After the film, Faris didn't just fade away. She spent eight seasons leading the CBS sitcom Mom, proving she could handle heavy, dramatic themes like addiction while still landing a punchline. She also became a podcast pioneer with Anna Faris Is Unqualified. While she’s stepped back from the massive blockbuster scene recently, her influence on female-led physical comedy is everywhere.
She wasn't just an actress in this; she was a producer. That matters. It shows she had a vision for what this story was—a subversion of the "dumb blonde" trope.
The Transformation of Emma Stone as Natalie
Before she was winning Oscars for La La Land or Poor Things, Emma Stone was Natalie. The awkward, socially stunted leader of Zeta Alpha Zeta. This was only her second major film role after Superbad.
Look at her performance here. You can see the bones of the superstar she would become. Even under the frizzy hair and thick glasses, Stone’s timing was impeccable. She took a character that could have been a one-note nerd and made her someone the audience actually rooted for.
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- She moved from this into Easy A, which solidified her as a leading lady.
- Then came the Spider-Man era.
- Finally, she became the Yorgos Lanthimos muse we know today.
Seeing her in the cast of The House Bunny now feels like looking at a "before" photo of a legend. It’s wild to think she was once the supporting comedic relief for a movie about Playboy bunnies.
Kat Dennings and the Alt-Girl Energy
Kat Dennings played Mona, the feminist, cynical member of the house who was diametrically opposed to everything Shelley stood for. Dennings was already known for Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, but The House Bunny leaned into her ability to be the "deadpan" anchor of a scene.
She basically took this persona and turned it into a massive paycheck with 2 Broke Girls. For years, she was one of the highest-paid women on television. She also hopped into the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Darcy Lewis. It's a role she’s reprised multiple times, most notably in WandaVision.
Mona was the character who reminded us that the movie wasn't just about looking pretty; it was about the friction between different types of womanhood. Dennings played that edge perfectly.
Katharine McPhee and the Post-Idol Transition
Fresh off American Idol, Katharine McPhee was cast as Harmony, the pregnant hippie of the group. It was a bit of a "can she actually act?" moment for the public.
She could.
McPhee’s career took a very different path than Stone’s or Dennings’. She became a Broadway powerhouse, starring in Waitress, and led the cult-favorite musical drama Smash. While she doesn’t do as many films these days, her presence in the cast of The House Bunny was a crucial bridge for her transition from reality TV singer to legitimate actress.
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Rumer Willis and the "Corset" Girl
Rumer Willis played Joanne, the girl so insecure she wore a full-body brace despite not needing one. Willis, the daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, had a lot of pressure to prove she wasn't just a "nepo baby"—long before that term was a TikTok buzzword.
She went on to win Dancing with the Stars and had a significant run on the show Empire. She’s also done a lot of work in the indie space and on stage. In the movie, her character’s arc is arguably the most visual—literally shedding a shell to become herself.
The Supporting Players: Colin Hanks and Tyson Ritter
It wasn't just about the girls.
Colin Hanks played Oliver, the "nice guy" love interest. It’s a thankless role in a movie like this, but Hanks (another son of a legend) brought a groundedness to it. He’s since become a staple in prestige TV, with incredible turns in Fargo and The Offer.
Then there’s Tyson Ritter. The lead singer of The All-American Rejects. He played Colby. At the time, he was the ultimate mid-2000s heartthrob. His acting career stayed relatively low-key, though he’s appeared in shows like Preacher and Parenthood. For most people, he’ll always be the guy who sang "Gives You Hell," but in the context of the cast of The House Bunny, he was the perfect "cool guy" foil.
Why This Cast Still Matters
There is a weird phenomenon with mid-2000s comedies where they either age terribly or become nostalgic staples. The House Bunny falls into the latter category because of the chemistry.
You can’t fake that.
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The script was written by Karen McCullah and Kirsten Smith—the same duo behind Legally Blonde. They knew how to write women who were funny without being the butt of the joke. That’s the secret sauce. When you look at the cast of The House Bunny, you’re looking at a group of women who were given permission to be messy, weird, and loud.
Surprising Facts About the Production
- The Playboy Mansion scenes were actually filmed at the real mansion.
- Many of the "Playmate" extras were actual Playboy models from that era.
- Anna Faris actually pitched the idea for the movie herself.
- The "growling" name-introduction scene was improvised by Faris.
The Legacy of Zeta Alpha Zeta
If you revisit the film now, notice the background characters. You’ll see faces that popped up later in guest spots on Grey's Anatomy or The Office. It was a literal scouting ground for talent.
The movie deals with the "male gaze," but it does it through a lens that feels oddly empowering for a film titled The House Bunny. It’s about the girls finding confidence, even if that confidence initially comes from a makeover. By the end, they realize the makeover was just a catalyst, not the cure.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Retrospective Viewers
If you're looking to dive deeper into the world of the cast of The House Bunny, here is how to consume their best work today:
- For Comedy Fans: Watch Anna Faris in Mom. It’s her best work and shows a range that The House Bunny only hinted at.
- For Award-Chasers: Follow Emma Stone’s collaborations with Yorgos Lanthimos (The Favourite, Poor Things). It is the polar opposite of her role as Natalie.
- For Music Lovers: Check out Katharine McPhee’s live Broadway recordings. Her voice is world-class.
- For the Nostalgic: Watch the 2008 behind-the-scenes features. You can see the genuine bond between the cast members, which explains why the movie feels so warm even 16 years later.
The cast of The House Bunny represents a specific era of Hollywood where "chick flicks" were still getting theatrical releases and serving as launchpads for future A-listers. It’s a time capsule of 2008 fashion, humor, and burgeoning stardom.
Check the film out on streaming services like Hulu or Paramount+ depending on your region. It holds up surprisingly well, mostly because the talent involved was always destined for bigger things.