Actor and singer-songwriterReneé Rapphas seen a career explosion in 2024, with her appearances onSaturday Night Liveand as Regina George in the 2024Mean Girlsremake cementing her as an emerging talent worth watching. Gaining her big break in the HBO comedy-dramaThe Sex Lives of College Girls,Reneé Rapp has already established herself as an incredibly capable actor and singer. Her musical career is accelerating just as fast as her professional reputation as a performer on the screen and stage, and now many fans are wondering just which TV shows and movies Reneé Rapp has appeared in.
Despite being only 24 years old, Reneé Rapp has already established herself as a versatile performer across multiple disciplines. The North Carolina native wasted no time in progressing from the star of a well-received TV show to portraying one of the most infamous teen movie antagonists of all time — theMean Girlsvillain Regina George— and also establishing herself as a potential pop sensation thanks to her 2022 debut EPEverything to Everyone.Every Reneé Rapp TV show and movie highlights a different side to her talents, and there’s no doubt audiences will be seeing much more of her as time progresses.
Mean Girls (2024)
Cast
Mean Girls is a reimagining of the 2004 classic comedy film as a musical, directed by Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr. When Cady Heron and her family move from Africa to the United States; she experiences a culture shock when she enters the public school system for the first time. While trying to fit in, she is roped into the popular but superficial and cruel clique, the Plastics.
While it’s far from the earliest appearance of singer and actor, 2024’sMean Girlsmarked Reneé Rapp’s debut on the big screen.Mean Girlsis a remake of the 2004 movie of the same name, and incorporates music from the Broadway show, both of which were written and produced by Tina Fey. Reneé Rapp reprised her role from her time on-stage in theMean Girlsmusical as Regina George, the antagonist portrayed in the 2004 original by Rachel McAdams.
Reneé Rapp proved to be a more than suitable replacement for Rachel McAdams, and it’s no surprise that Tina Fey wanted to bring her from the stage to the feature-film version of theMean Girlsmusical.Rapp turns Regina George, the leader of the trio of popular girls known as the Plastics, into an antagonist fit for the modern era, bringing all the shallow and vapid venom of McAdams' incarnation but with a modern spin.Given her performance, it’s also highly likely that 2024’sMean Girlswon’t be the last time audiences get to see Reneé Rapp on the big screen.
10 Biggest Mean Girls Changes The 2024 Musical Makes To The Original
2024’s Mean Girls musical may seem quite similar to the original film from 2004, but in reality, there are countless differences both big and small.
The Sex Lives of College Girls
This comedy-drama series follows four diverse college roommates navigating life at New England’s prestigious Essex College. As they experience newfound independence, they encounter personal and academic challenges. Created by Mindy Kaling and Justin Noble, the series captures the complexities and humor of self-discovery and campus life.
Outside of 2024’sMean Girls,Reneé Rapp is also best known for her role as Leighton Murray in the 2021-2023 HBO Max teen comedy-dramaThe Sex Lives of College Girls,the third season of which arrives in November 2024.The role allowed Rapp not only to show her acting capabilities, but also to portray a character who, like her, is a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Since the show is a coming-of-age story about female college freshmen exploring their sexuality, Reneé Rapp’s role as Leighton was important not only for representation, but also likely significant for the actor herself.
Reneé Rapp’s performance as Leighton was as hilarious as it was emotional, and it’s easy to see how her role inThe Sex Lives of College Girlspaved the way for her future appearance inMean Girls.Leighton is a complex character not only because of her sexuality, but also because of her weatlhy upbringing and struggles to meet the expectations of her overbearing mother. Rapp remains a member of the cast, and is due to reappear inThe Sex Lives Of College Girlsseason 3.
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels, premiering in 1975. It features comedy sketches parodying contemporary culture and politics, performed by a rotating cast. Each episode is hosted by a celebrity guest and includes musical performances.
If there was ever a sign that a singer or actor is gaining recognition, it’s being invited toappear onSaturday Night Live.Reneé Rapp was the musical guest on the firstSNLepisode of 2024, and it was certainly an eventful appearance.Not only did Rapp perform her hit song “Snow Angel” and her collaboration with Megan Thee Stallion, “Not My Fault”, but she was also introduced by Rachel McAdams, the original Regina George from 2004’sMean Girls.
Appearing onSaturday Night Livewas also a powerful moment for Reneé Rapp, as she used the show as an opportunity to publicly confirm her sexuality and come out as a lesbian. Rap had previously opened up about identifying as bisexual, but to fully assert her identity on a platform as public asSaturday Night Livewas a powerful moment, and one that cemented her as a young icon for the LGBTQ+ community.
Reneé Rapp’s Career On Stage
Reneé Rapp Is Becoming A Theater Veteran
While the singer and actor is gaining acclaim for her skills on the screen, she’s far from limited to TV shows and movies, as Reneé Rapp also has a budding career on stage.She appeared in theMean Girlsstage show as Regina George when the show moved from Broadway to the August Wilson Theatre, but this is far from her only theatrical experience.
Reneé Rapp appeared in two stage shows in 2018,Spring Awakeningat the Theare Charlotte as Wendla, and as Monteen in the Roundabout Theatre Company’s production of Parade. Her most recent appearance on stage came in 2021’sSisgendered,a one-night-only production from Feintstein’s and 54 Below, in which she played herself. It’s unknown when Rapp will next feature in an on-stage production, but given her performance inMean Girlsit seems likely she’s not short on opportunities.
Reneé Rapp’s Music Career Explained
The Mean Girls Star Is Most Known For Her Musical Talents
While Reneé Rapp rose to prominence initially because of her acting abilities both on stage and inThe Sex Lives Of College Girls,she quickly became known for her abilities as a singer. Her musical career is what secured her aSaturday Night Liveappearance, and, since theMean Girlsstage show and 2024 movie are musicals, secured the role of Regina George as much due to her skills as a singer as her acting abilities.
Rapp released her debut EP,Everything to Everyone,in 2022. This was followed by the studio albumSnow Angelin 2023. Outside of her two albums, Reneé Rapp also released the song “Not My Fault”, which is a collaboration with Megan Thee Stallion. Both albums were successful enough to warrant the release of deluxe additions. In 2024, Rapp teased the release of a second studio album, and revealed that every track would be highly personal to her(viaBillboard).
