‘Bring It On’ Cast: Where Are They Now?

We are cheerleaders! Bring It On became an instant cinematic classic when it debuted in August 2000, thanks to knockout performances from Kirsten Dunst, Gabrielle Union and more cast members.

The comedic film followed a group of rival cheerleaders as they competed to win a national championship amid allegations of cheating, blossoming love and plenty of other run-of-the-mill teen drama. Dunst (Torrance Shipman), Union (Isis), Eliza Dushku (Missy Pantone) and Jesse Bradford (Cliff Pantone) led the cast.

“[I was shooting] in Prague, and I remember not turning it down, exactly, but not being super sure about it,” Dunst told Entertainment Weekly in October 2015. “I was like, ‘A cheerleading movie?’ It sounded like it could have been just a cheesy teen movie, but what sealed the deal for me was talking to the director, Peyton Reed, on the phone — he was just so smart. I agreed to do it mostly because of Peyton.”

Union, for her part, did not have to audition due to her previous roles in teen films like 10 Things I Hate About You and She’s All That, but that does not mean the role came easily to her. “I played soccer, basketball and track, and nothing can prepare you for what cheerleaders go through,” she admitted. “Those rehearsals were some of the lower points in my life — I questioned my very existence. Everything hurt. That’s probably why there are a lot of close-ups of me, not wide shots.”

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The fan fervor surrounding the movie has stuck with the cast too. “Even when I’m promoting different movies or my TV show, people still want to talk about Bring It On,” Union noted. “When I run into Katie Couric, it’s the first thing she talks about.”

Those who love Bring It On do not always get the quotes right, though. “I get lines from the spoof — ‘It’s already been broughten,’” Union said. “I don’t remind them that that actually wasn’t in our movie.”

Dunst, meanwhile, was none the wiser until her costar filled her in. “That wasn’t?” she replied, laughing. “I thought it was.”

While celebrating the film’s 20th anniversary in August 2020, the cast threw around ideas for a potential sequel. “Kirsten, maybe we’re, like, coheads of the PTA,” Union suggested, to which Dunst replied: “Or we run a cheer school, like [on the Netflix docuseries] Cheer.”

Scroll down to discover what the cast of Bring It On accomplished after the movie took off in 2000!

The Golden Globe nominee starred in Spider-Man, Fargo, Wimbledon, Marie Antoinette, Bachelorette and On Becoming a God in Central Florida. In 2022, she received her first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress in The Power of the Dog.

Dunst began dating Fargo costar Jesse Plemons in 2015, getting engaged two years later. The couple welcomed their first child together, son Ennis, in May 2018. Their second child arrived in 2021, and the pair tied the knot in July 2022. 

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Gabrielle Union (Isis)

Union moved on to roles in Being Mary Jane, L.A.’s Finest, Bad Boys II, Night Stalker, Ugly Betty, Flashforward and Think Like a Man. She released her memoir, We’re Going to Need More Wine, in 2017, and she is also a children’s book author. 

The activist married Dwyane Wade in August 2014 and became a stepmother to Zaire, Zaya and Xavier. The couple’s daughter Kaavia arrived in November 2018 via surrogate.

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Eliza Dushku (Missy)

The actress appeared on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dollhouse, Bull, Angel, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Tru Calling, Leap Year and Banshee. 

Dushku wed Peter Palandjian in August 2018. She gave birth to their sons, Bourne and Bodan, in August 2019 and August 2021, respectively.  

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Jesse Bradford (Cliff)

Bradford starred on The West Wing, Swimfan, Flags of Our Fathers, Outlaw, Guys With Kids, Sequestered, Badge of Honor, Code Black and Shooter. 

The actor tied the knot with Andrea Watrouse in December 2018. The couple welcomed their first child, daughter Maggie, in May 2021. 

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Clare Kramer (Courtney)

Kramer had roles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Rules of Attraction, The Mallory Effect, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, House, Goodnight Burbank and Film Pigs. She is also a TV host and producer.  

The actress married Brian Keathley in October 2005; she filed for divorce in June 2017. They share daughters Gavin and River as well as sons Hart and Sky.

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Nicole Bilderback (Whitney)

Bilderback has since appeared on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Dawson’s Creek, Boston Legal, Heroes, Castle, Bones, Good Girls, Cruel Summer and The Rookie.

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Nathan West (Jan)

West had roles on 7th Heaven, Miracle, Not Another Teen Movie, Bones and Grey’s Anatomy. He is a singer/songwriter and performs with wife Chyler Leigh, whom he wed in July 2002. The pair welcomed son Noah in December 2003, daughter Taelyn in September 2006 and daughter Anniston in May 2009.

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Natina Reed (Jenelope)

Reed pursued music with her girl group Blaque until they disbanded. She died in October 2012 after being struck by a car. She was 32. The singer had a son named Tren with ex-fiancé Kurupt.

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Brandi Williams (Lafred)

Williams was also a member of the girl group Blaque. She appeared in On the Line after Bring It On. The actress founded the cosmetics brand BEIPolished in 2020.

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Lindsay Sloane (Big Red)

The actress went on to star on The Odd Couple, Playing House, How I Met Your Mother, She’s Out of My League, The Other Guys, Horrible Bosses, Weeds, The League and Psych. 

Sloane married Dar Rollins in 2004. She gave birth to their daughters, Maxwell and Pippa, in January 2012 and May 2017, respectively.