The famous scene with Phoebe Cates' red bikini in Fast Times at Ridgemont High is a highly controversial moment. But how did the actor feel about it?
This article contains makes references to sexual content and abortion
The famous moment with Phoebe Cates in a red bikini is one of Fast Times at Ridgemont High’s most controversial scenes – and the actor has much to say about it. The scene involves Judge Reinhold’s character, Brad Hamilton, fantasizing about his sister’s best friend Linda Barrett, played by Phoebe Cates, climbing out of the pool in slow-motion and taking off her red bikini top. While the red bikini scene is one of the most iconic moments from Fast Times at Ridgemont High, it’s also one of the most problematic scenes because it heavily sexualizes Phoebe Cates’ character.
Most of the Fast Times at Ridgemont High scenes with nudity, like Stacy Hamilton having disappointing sex with Mike Damone in the pool house, play an important role in the plot. That sex scene leads to an unplanned pregnancy, leading Stacy to decide she wants to have an abortion. However, the red bikini scene is a non-sequitur with no impact on the overarching narrative, which makes the nudity feel gratuitous and unnecessary. While there’s been a lot of debate about this scene, Phoebe Cates has expressed her own opinion about Fast Times at Ridgemont High’s red bikini moment.
Phoebe Cates Said The Fast Times At Ridgemont High Red Bikini Scene Was "Easy"
In a resurfaced 1982 interview (via news.com.au), Phoebe Cates explained that the nude scene in Fast Times at Ridgemont High was “easy” compared to the nude scenes she did in the romantic drama film Paradise (released the same year as Fast Times at Ridgemont High). Whereas the sexualized scenes in Paradise were “serious and more difficult,” Cates said that the topless scene in Fast Times at Ridgemont High was “funny, which made it easy.” When Linda catches Brad in 'the act' at the end of the scene, it turns him into the butt of the joke.
Speaking to Interview magazine, Phoebe Cates’ Fast Times at Ridgemont High co-star Jennifer Jason Leigh recalled that she asked Cates for advice before shooting her own nude scene in the film. Leigh and Cates’ characters – Stacy and Linda, respectively – are best friends, and that dynamic rings true because Leigh felt “comfortable around [Cates] immediately,” and appreciated how “direct” she was. Leigh remembered being “really nervous” before filming her sex scene, but Cates assured her “it’s not that big a deal,” which made the process a lot easier and less intimidating.
Cates Quit Acting But Returned For Jennifer Jason Leigh's The Anniversary Party
In the years after Fast Times at Ridgemont High made her an icon, Phoebe Cates went on to play such roles as Christine Ramsey in the teen comedy Private School, Lili Lace in the TV miniseries Lace and Lace II, and Lizzie Cronin in the fantasy comedy Drop Dead Fred. Her best-known non-Fast Times role is Kate Beringer in the creature feature classic Gremlins and its genre-changing sequel Gremlins 2: The New Batch. After starring as the title character in the fact-based dramedy Princess Caraboo in 1994, Cates retired from acting to focus on raising her children (via the New Zealand Herald).
Whereas a lot of stars end up getting pushed out of the business by the ruthless Hollywood machine, Phoebe Cates retained her agency by voluntarily stepping out of the limelight. In 2001, Cates got back in front of the camera for one final film role. She played Sophia Gold in Leigh’s feature directorial debut, The Anniversary Party, as a favor to her Fast Times at Ridgemont High castmate. It’s a testament to the friendship that Leigh shares with Cates that the former got the latter to come out of retirement for one last job.
Source: news.com.au, Interview, New Zealand Herald
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