Lindsay Lohan Is <i>So</i> Back

Jacket, pants, boots, Isabel Marant. Ring, Van Cleef & Arpels.

Without giving too much away, there’s a scene in Freakier Friday, out August 8, where Lindsay Lohan, as her character Anna Coleman, rocks out onstage with her band, Pink Slip. Seeing Lohan nail her guitar solo (yes, that’s actually her singing and playing), in a red lip, her signature-hued hair looking luscious and head-bang-worthy, her skin glowing as much as her sequined minidress, happiness washed over me. “She’s so back,” I thought, and thank God for that.

There isn’t much else that feels the same as it did 22 years ago, when Freaky Friday came out, but Lindsay Lohan has returned to the big screen, and it feels really good.

Lohan was just 12 years old when she made her film debut in the 1998 remake of The Parent Trap. Five years later came Freaky Friday, followed by Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen; Mean Girls; Herbie: Fully Loaded; and Just My Luck. But as we know now and should have known then, Hollywood is a tough place for child stars, and the abuse Lohan suffered in the tabloids left few surprised when she took time away from the industry.

Faux fur coat, Roberto Cavalli. Tights, Falke.

In the years that followed, Lohan would pop up in the press every now and then, seemingly living a fabulous, if understandably private, life largely abroad—she went viral dancing at a beach club in Mykonos; she married a finance executive and had a son, and they all made a home together in Dubai.

Then, like she never left, Netflix brought her back into our lives with a trio of rom-coms. And now, with her first feature film since 2007, and her first-ever starring role in a television series on the way—the Hulu adaptation of Sophie Stava’s page-turner Count My Lies—she’s not just back, but thriving.

In a wide-ranging conversation below with Saturday Night Live’s Chloe Fineman (who has a hilarious cameo in Freakier Friday as a kooky dance instructor), Lohan talks about relishing life as a mom, developing a skin care line (of course we made her share her secrets!), and how she manifested her return.

Faux fur coat, Dolce & Gabbana. Ring, Van Cleef & Arpels. Tights, Falke. Slingbacks, Saint Laurent.

Chloe Fineman: Are you excited to be giving the people exactly what they want?

Lindsay Lohan: I’m excited. It feels surreal. I’ve never thought I would do a movie where there would be a sequel. It’s something you don’t really think about. And then when you get to do it, and bring a character that you knew so well back to life, in a sense, it’s exciting. There’s a comfort with it that you don’t find in a new character. It’s evolved. What are they like now? How can we shoot it? So it felt really special, and so did doing my first feature back with Disney again after not doing features for such a long time. It’s a really nice thing.

CF: You’re coming home, in a way.

LL: I know. I weirdly felt like that when I got to the lot. It felt really special, because I was 10 [when I auditioned for The Parent Trap]; now I’m 38. And to be back there at this time and have a full life and be able to share it with my husband and my son, it definitely feels unique in a lot of ways, and it’s nice.

CF: There’s truly something for everybody in this movie, and I just feel like you’re bringing so much joy into the world. I got to see little bits of it, and I was like, “This is exactly what we all want right now.” It’s not cynical. It’s…

LL: It’s easygoing. I feel like everything felt at ease when we were making it, and I feel that’s the best way to describe how I felt when I watched it. It felt easy and fun, and fresh at the same time. There’s not a lot bringing me to the movie theaters personally right now. [Freakier Friday] is a feel-good movie, which is what I want to give people. And it’s fun. When I saw the second cut, I wanted to get up and dance at the end. I was like, “Oh, this is cool. I like this song. I want people to do that.”

CF: Well, you sing in this again. How was that?

LL: It was good. Well, it was kind of nerve-racking at first, because I’m not singing as me. When I was doing [Freaky Friday], I was also recording an album, so it was part of my life at the time. In this movie, I was singing it as [my character] Anna, whereas before felt more like Lindsay singing.

CF: And the band’s back together for it?

LL: Yes. The whole band came back. And it’s so funny, because Christina Vidal [who plays Maddie] had just had a baby, and we were like, “How weird is this? Are we still cool?”

CF: No, you’re cooler than cool. It’s somehow more iconic; you guys look even better.

LL: I feel like we live in a different world now, where women make it such a point, especially in motherhood, to make time for ourselves. We make it important. But also, once you have one kid, you’re like, “Oh, my kid needs a kid to play with.”

CF: Is that where you are right now?

LL: I’m like, “He needs a friend.”

CF: You grew up with a bunch of siblings, so you’re like, “Oh. I get it.”

LL: Yeah, there’s nothing like that. Also, I don’t know if it’s selfish—but I’m like, “I need more than one kid to take care of me when I’m older.”

Faux fur coat, Dolce & Gabbana. Ring, Van Cleef & Arpels. Tights, Falke. Slingbacks, Saint Laurent.

Coat, dress, Balmain.

CF: Aside from doing a few things here and there, you got back into acting in what, the last four or five years? What has that transition been like?

LL: It was really Netflix. And I was manifesting it. During COVID, I was like, “I want to work with Netflix.” I kept writing it in my journal and saying it. And then that’s what happened. I was like, “Oh, it’d be nice to do three films with them, and then see where that goes. And then I definitely want to do my first feature back with Disney.” So I manifested that, and I’m manifesting this movie now.

CF: Wow! So you write stuff down. I literally have a journal next to me right now.

LL: Mine’s in my bedroom. Every morning, I write in it. Sometimes at night, to check in.

CF: Do you say it out loud?

LL: That’s more for the morning. I do it in the shower because that’s my space.

CF: Yeah, you’re like, [Flashing jazz hands] “Netflix. Netflix. Netflix.” [Laughs] I remember when I saw your movies on Netflix—first of all, it’s nostalgic and we’re all rooting for you.…But you are just so magnetic, and the movies are so watchable.

Faux fur coat, Elisabetta Franchi. Bodysuit, Khaite. Tights, Falke. Heels, Giuseppe Zanotti.

LL: I always want to make movies like that—things that make people happy and bring people together. I love making movies for that reason—for people to escape and find something that they can take into their own life and realize everything’s going to be okay. But with Netflix, I was like, “Okay, now we need to be thinking about other stuff.” I can’t do movies like these forever.

CF: It was so special for me to get to shoot a movie in L.A. Did you feel that at all?

LL: Yeah. For the crew, they’re so excited to be working here, where they go back home to their families. That’s the difference you feel here. It’s nice. I made it home every night, except for one, to tuck my son in. And it shows in the film—when you’re happy behind the scenes, that comes through. And now, the film is such an homage to California after the fires, because we shot a lot in the Palisades and in Malibu. Even the house—the original Freaky Friday house—unfortunately, is gone. So I think it’ll be a really nice love letter.

CF: You and Jamie Lee Curtis have such magical chemistry. When she found out you were going to be a mom, did she give you any advice?

LL: We’re both very family-oriented people. We always talk about that, and one of the other big things [she’s taught me] is to always take care of yourself first. Because without that, how can you do everything for everyone else?

CF: What does that look like for you?

LL: I love having a routine, and I like schedules. So, my morning routine: Waking up, writing in my journal, sipping my green tea, breakfast with my son. And then Pilates, making sure I go.

CF: When you’re in Dubai versus New York or L.A., do you try to keep that same routine?

LL: I try. It’s hard in L.A. Even taking my son to the park in L.A., I get stressed. I’m like, “Are there cameras?” In New York, there’s no worry; no one bothers us. Everyone has their own thing going on.

There’s a different kind of energy in New York. I’d rather have downtime in New York than I would in L.A. But the nice thing about L.A. is, I like space [and you get that here]. But I’m thinking as I’m saying this, the funny thing is, in Dubai I get all of those things. I get the privacy, I get the peace, I get the space. I don’t have to worry there; I feel safe.

CF: That’s everything. So you’re there half the year?

LL: We’re based there, but last year, we were there less than half the year. I want to spend more time there. It is nice to have a balance. But my husband and I are always like, “Okay, we have until he’s five.”

CF: And then?

LL: Everything. Well, we have to figure out where he’s going to go to school. That’s the main thing.

CF: Has that been such a change, having to take care of another person?

LL: Yeah, because, I mean, it’s the most important thing—my husband, my son, and me. It’s all about balance and, as I said, routine. Especially when you have a kid, routine is the most important thing. And whatever their routine is, I’ve got to live by that.

Faux fur coat, Roberto Cavalli. Tights, Falke.

CF: What does he think about you being an actress?

LL: I don’t think he really knows yet. In my trailer, one day I was watching the original guitar scene and practicing movements, and he was there and he was like, “Mama,” pointing at the screen.

CF: Are you excited to get to do more dramatic work with your TV series, Count My Lies?

LL: Yeah, I am. I love the book. But when I was reading it, I had to put it down for a day because I was like, “I’m stressed now.” But I liked that. It’s going to be nice to do something different. I was talking to the writers and showrunners yesterday and told them, “I don’t know if you realize, but this is the first time where I don’t have to have a romantic interest, where I don’t have to kiss someone at the end of the movie.” Which is so refreshing—to not have to be that girl for once.

CF: Any other acting projects you’d like to take on?

LL: I would love to find a dark comedy like Mean Girls. That kind of meaty, good, funny movie—a smart comedy. Not a rom-com, just a straightforward funny movie. I’m excited to be doing this drama. I’d love to work with some dream directors.

CF: Like who? Let’s start manifesting this.

LL: Maybe Quentin Tarantino. Also, I’d love to work with Julianne Moore—I don’t know why I’ve never played her daughter. Maybe now I’d be her younger sister. I’d also love to work with Robert De Niro and Al Pacino. Maybe something Sopranos-y, since I am Italian.

CF: Anything other than acting in your future?

LL: I am developing my own line.

Faux fur coat, Ludovic de Saint Sernin. Bodysuit, tights, Fleur du Mal. Heels, Balenciaga.

Jacket, Khaite. Camisole, pants, Zadig & Voltaire.

CF: Fashion?

LL: More along the beauty line. It’s taking a long time because I’m very specific, because I’m crazy about my skin and health.

CF: Oh my God, I’m so excited. I am that person. I got a facial last week in New York with an aesthetician who claims she’s never done Botox. And you obviously have skin of dreams, so honey, whatever you’re selling, I’m buying.

LL: Everyone does Botox.

CF: Last night at dinner, I was with somebody, and they’re like, “I’ve never had it.” And I was like, “What? Are you kidding?”

LL: Who are you? It’s like, “You lie.”

ELLE: I have to say, Lindsay, I’ve been staring at your skin this whole time. You look amazing. Can you tell us your secrets?

LL: Oh, God, I don’t even know how to answer that. I drink this juice every morning. It’s like carrot, ginger, lemon, olive oil, apple. I also drink a lot of green tea, a lot of water. I’m a big pickled beets person, so I put them in almost everything. My skin care is very specific. I’m trying out some serums now that I’m doing—I’m testing them. Also, I’m a big believer in ice-cold water on your face when you wake up. I drink lemon juice a lot; I also put tons of chia seeds in my water. Eye patches, I do every morning. I’m into lasers.

CF: Me too. They’re life-changing.

LL: There’s a new at-home one I saw that Julianne Moore was using that looked really good. It’s good for around your mouth. I’ve heard it all.

CF: I just kind of show up and say, “Salmon sperm, whatever—just put it on. I don’t care.”

LL: I’ve heard that it’s not really real.

CF: Also, Fraxel changed my life, but it is intense.

Faux fur jacket, gown, David Koma. Ring, Van Cleef & Arpels.

LL: Did I do Fraxel? I don’t think so. I did Morpheus8 once, and then I realized my skin is so thin that I can’t be doing that. My skin changed after having my son. It got really sensitive. That’s what really made me change my whole routine and diet and everything. I did blood tests, and I was like, “I want to know everything I’m allergic to.” So I cut everything out, and that’s kind of when everything started to change for me.

CF: Really? So much to look forward to.

LL: Yeah, my skin got even more sensitive after him. It doesn’t happen to everyone. But I’m glad it happened to me, because it made me aware of how to take care of my skin long term.

CF: I feel like in the media, there’s the awful portrayal of motherhood, and you’re like the complete opposite. You’re radiant, you’ve had a glow-up, you’re thriving—the world is obsessed. What a great inspiration for all of us.

LOHAN’S PUBLICIST: Yeah, but you know what the problem is with you being beautiful women—the second she looks any different, they assume she had her face lifted at 37 or 38, that she ripped apart this or that. It’s so mean.

LL: I’m like, when? With what time? Where?

LOHAN’S PUBLICIST: Yeah, I tried to figure that out, Linds, in the last three years, when you had time to do anything, because I know your schedule. So the haters can hate and be jealous. It just sucks that that’s where they go with women in today’s world. Women can’t just look good to look good and change their lifestyle to be more healthy.

LL: You just have to do it and ignore everyone else.

CF: It’s always so weird, like, “What are you doing?” It’s like, “I’m just taking care of myself. Go fuck yourself.” You know what I mean? Well, I think it’s amazing that you’re taking this annoying way that women are treated and you’re going to make a product. I’ll be first in line.

Hair by Ward Stegerhoek for Bumble and Bumble; makeup by Kristofer Buckle at OPUS Beauty; manicure by Eri Ishizu at The Wall Group; set design by Happy Massee at Lalaland Artists; produced by Dana Brockman at Viewfinders.

This story appears in the Summer 2025 issue of ELLE.

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