Kirsten Dunst: Another Actress Dissing ‘Bring It On’ for Being ‘Dumb’ Made Her ‘Feel Terrible’

The 2022 Oscar nominee looked back on how "Bring It On" was perceived as a "dumb cheerleader movie" by her peers.

Can we get an I-R-O-N-Y?

Kirsten Dunst, the definitive early 2000s teen queen who starred in blockbusters like “Spider-Man” and indie marvels such as “The Virgin Suicides” and “Drop Dead Gorgeous,” once second-guessed her career choices, thanks to one of her peers.

Dunst, who is nominated in the Best Supporting Actress Oscars category for “The Power of the Dog,” revealed during a The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter interview that her breakout “Bring It On” role came with an unexpected criticism.

“During that age I was wanting to be taken seriously too, so I think that even though it was so successful I think there’s part of me that always checks myself or checks what’s around me,” Dunst said. “I remember another actress said something, actually. She was like, ‘Well, I’m not in a dumb cheerleader movie’ or something. Her saying that just made me feel so terrible about myself.”

Dunst added, “It’s so funny how one thing can really — it’s not any of the good that sticks out; it’s the one bad thing that really sticks out to you always.”

“Bring It On” starred Gabrielle Union, Eliza Dushku, and Jesse Bradford, and led to multiple movie sequels and a Broadway musical, despite Dunst admitting that its success was a “complete surprise” to her.