Where Are They Now: Bring It On

Get out your spirit stick–it’s time to go back to the year 2000 when we first met Torrance, Big Red, Missy and the rest of the Toro cheerleaders. In fact, the film celebrated it’s 12th anniversary of release on August 25th, 2000! I was obsessed with a capital O after I saw Bring It On for the very first time. First of all, I was only a cheerleader for my local “Optimist Club” football team for about three months. I got the flu, missed too many practices to qualify for a spot at the regional competition and that was that. But I never lost my urge to shake my spirit fingers and lived vicariously through Bring It On–all 10,000 times I’ve watched it through the years.

And now, something amazing has happened. A Broadway version hit New York City. Friends, I saw it and I was in awe of the way it brought the story and those awesome cheer routines to the stage. Seriously, it’s a spectacle not to be missed with a totally new and unique take on the story and characters. I won’t spoil it, I’ll just say that if you get to NYC–taking in Bring It On: The Musical is a priority.

Kirsten Dunst as Torrance Shipman

Kirsten played the Toro cheerleading squad’s fearless leader, stopping at nothing to bring the squad to Nationals while “bringing it” against rival squad, the Clovers from East Compton.

Bring It On bounced Kirsten to the top of the proverbial Hollywood pyramid and got her top notch roles in blockbusters like Spider-Man. After keeping a lower profile the past few years, Kirsten’s back with a vengeance. She was in last year’s critically acclaimed Melancholia, is currently starring in the raunchy comedy Bachelorette and has a ton of movies on the way including On the Road with Kristen Stewart.

Eliza Dushku as Missy Pantone

All rebel Missy wanted to do was tumble at her new high school. But with no gymnastics squad, she joined the crazy world of competitive cheerleading–rolling her eyes all the way to Nationals!

Eliza is the queen of starring in cult shows–first as Faith on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, then in short lived shows (but with devout fans) like Tru Calling and Dollhouse. She recently had a guest starring arc on the web series Leap Year and has a movie with fellow Buffy alum Michelle Trachtenberg on the way called The Scribbler. But what’s closest to her heart? Her Albanian heritage and a documentary she’s making on the country that she spent the summer fundraising for!

Gabrielle Union as Isis

Isis, the no nonsense captain of the East Compton Clovers, was the one that made damn sure her team “brought it” to Nationals. I still tear up when [SPOILER ALERT] her team wins!

As Gabrielle told us back in May, she’s quite devoted to her Miami Heat boyfriend Dwayne Wayne. But her career hasn’t stopped since Bring It On. She’s starred on shows like Night Stalker, Life and Flash Forward and carried movies like this year’s hit hit Think Like a Man!

Tsianina Joelson as Darcy

With a rich daddy and some major ‘tude, Darcy wasn’t the peppiest of the Toro cheerleaders but underneath that scowl you know how much she really cared!

Just a fun “where were they BEFORE” fact . . . before Bring It On, did you know Tsianina was the winner of the 1997 Fitness America’s Miss Fitness USA competition? She hasn’t done a ton of acting over the years but she did have a memorable arc in Xena: Warrior Princess and a small role in American Pie 2.

Clare Kramer as Courtney

BFF to Whitney and one of the snobbiest and stuck up members of the Toro squad–with some of the funniest zings–like, “She puts the “whore” in “horrifying.”

Clare has gone a different route than you might expect with a major presence in the Sci-Fi and fantasy world. Not only did she play Glory on Buffy the Vampire Slayer but she’s also a founder (and host) of the site Geek Nation. If that’s your bag, you can catch her two upcoming science/fantasy flicks–Mega Spider and Monster School!

Nicole Bilderback as Whitney

Courtney’s snarky, better half . . . I giggle every time she catches Torrance in the act of “cheer sex” with Cliff!

Nicole’s been a busy bee with guest starring roles on major shows ranging from Dawson’s Creek to Human Target and movie roles in films like Legally Blonde 2 and The Box. She’s also a big time philanthropist and humanitarian, lending her help to charitable organizations like Toys for Tots, Free the Slaves and Head for the Cure.

What do you love most about Bring It On? Were you a cheerleader? And be honest–have you dabbled in any of the Bring It On sequels? I may or may not watch a few minutes every time I catch a marathon of them all on ABC Family . . .

Oh, and get to NYC to see the Broadway show–you won’t regret it!

More Flashback Fun!

• Which Can’t Hardly Wait Character Were YOU in High School?

• 20 Shocking Celebrity Yearbook Photos You Need to See to Believe–Plus the Trailer for Channing Tatum’s High School Reunion Movie!

• Flashback Friday: 5 Amazing TV Shows from the ’90s You Forgot About–Until Now!

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Photos and Video: NBC, YouTube, IMDB.com, Wikimedia Commons