If you’re a fan of the 1983 comedy film ‘National Lampoon’s Vacation’, then you may remember the character of Audrey Griswold, played by Dana Barron. She was the moody and sullen teenage daughter of the Griswold family, who goes on a chaotic road trip from Chicago to Los Angeles.
However, in the sequels that followed, Audrey was played by different actresses. This led many viewers to wonder – what happened to the original Audrey from Vacation?
Well, it turns out that Dana Barron did return to reprise her role as Audrey in one of the sequels – 2003’s made-for-TV movie ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie’s Island Adventure’. However, this wasn’t her only appearance in the series after the first film. In fact, according to Barron herself, she was offered to play Audrey in ‘National Lampoon’s European Vacation’, but she turned it down.
So why did Barron decline such a prominent role in a popular franchise? Well, there are several reasons.
Firstly, at the time of European Vacation’s production in 1985, Barron was already committed to another project – a play called “Arms and Men” at New York’s Roundabout Theatre Company. Secondly, she felt that her character was being reduced to a caricature and didn’t want to perpetuate negative stereotypes about teenage girls.
Despite her absence from European Vacation and subsequent sequels like ‘Vegas Vacation’ and ‘Vacation’, Dana Barron continued to work as an actress in various film and TV projects. She appeared in movies like ‘He Knows You’re Alone’ and ‘Death Wish 4: The Crackdown’, as well as TV shows like ‘Law & Order’ and ‘One Life to Live’. In recent years, she has also been involved in writing and directing independent films.
In conclusion, while Dana Barron may not have played Audrey Griswold in every installment of the ‘Vacation’ series, she will always be remembered as the original and iconic portrayal of the character. Her decision to decline further appearances as Audrey was based on her principles and commitment to her craft, which is admirable. Barron’s talent and versatility as an actress continue to shine in her other works, proving that she is much more than just a one-dimensional character from a comedy classic.
- Key Takeaways:
- Dana Barron played Audrey Griswold in the original ‘National Lampoon’s Vacation’.
- She declined to reprise her role in ‘European Vacation’ due to scheduling conflicts and concerns about negative stereotypes.
- Barron did return as Audrey in ‘Christmas Vacation 2’.
- She has since continued to work as an actress and filmmaker.