‘Ferris Bueller’ Star Slams Iconic Film, Unveils Tension with Director and Hollywood Exit

“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” star Mia Sara ripped into her experience filming the 1986 classic, declaring it “not that good an experience” for her. The actress, who played Sloane Peterson, made it clear she’s not interested in sugarcoating her past.

“I don’t really give interviews because making Ferris Bueller was not that good an experience for me,” she told The Sunday Times. Her disdain for the process is palpable.

Sara openly admitted to not getting along with director John Hughes, who passed away in 2009. “I’m very aware of what a precious thing this movie is, and I don’t want to disappoint people. But I didn’t get along well with John,” she stated bluntly.

She described Hughes as a “strange guy,” revealing his desire for the cast to bond over French New Wave films. “He wanted us all to hang out together and to introduce us to the French New Wave films,” she recounted.

However, Sara felt out of place among seasoned actors, stating, “I was a snotty New York kid and had seen all those movies, so he was frustrated in that desire.” She lacked the emotional maturity to navigate the egos on set, both hers and others.

Despite the chaos, Sara confessed to having a “massive crush” on her on-screen boyfriend, Ferris Bueller, played by Matthew Broderick. “It was very much unrequited,” she lamented, noting Broderick’s secret relationship with his on-screen sister, Jeanie Bueller, portrayed by Jennifer Grey.

Unhappiness plagued her acting career, leading her to pivot towards writing poetry. “I never really had the resilience to deal with the audition process,” she admitted. “There are some things in my career that I’m really proud of, but overall it was not a happy career for me.”

Sara’s filmography includes titles like the 1988 film “Apprentice to Murder,” the 1990 movie “Daughter of Darkness,” and the 2002 film “Lost in OZ.”

Her last acting credit before a decade-long hiatus was the 2013 movie “Pretty Pretty.” She returned to the screen with the 2025 film “The Life of Chuck,” where she played Sarah Krantz alongside Marvel star Tom Hiddleston.

Sara made her first red carpet appearance in over ten years at the premiere of “The Life of Chuck” in June 2025. She beamed at the Hollywood Legion Theater in California.

At that event, she revealed to People that her return to acting was inspired by her obsession with Mike Flanagan’s 2021 horror series “Midnight Mass.”